Every year, OSHA releases a list of the 10 most frequently cited violations, which, for 2016, were accumulated by reviewing the nearly 32,000 workplace inspections conducted by OSHA staff. The list for 2016 looks a whole lot like the list for 2015 and the preceding years. As OSHA notes, “it rarely changes.” The top 10 violations for 2016 were:

1. Fall protection
2. Hazard communication
3. Scaffolds
4. Respiratory protection
5. Lockout/tagout
6. Powered industrial trucks
7. Ladders
8. Machine guarding
9. Electrical wiring
10. Electrical, general requirements

While this list might not look new, it is a good reminder of the issues OSHA will focus on during its next inspection. As we previously reported, the fall protection standards for general industry were recently revised to allow for greater flexibility by allowing a variety of fall protection measures in different circumstances, so manufacturers may want to inform themselves of these new options.

Other violations on this list often arise out of insufficient planning, communication, and/or training. By implementing and carrying out better training and communication, manufacturers may be able to reduce the likelihood of any number of the violations on this list.

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