NSC: OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Violations

Oct. 6, 2010
On Oct. 5, OSHA revealed the top 10 most cited violations in fiscal year 2010 during a special session at the National Safety Council (NSC) Congress and Expo in San Diego, highlighting the agency’s enforcement efforts for fall protection, hazard communication, electrical safety and more.

Thomas Galassi, director of OSHA’s directorate of enforcement programs, shared the top 10 violations with NSC attendees on the expo floor. As expected, this year’s list did not deviate significantly from the top 10 violations in years past.

“Largely, we see a degree of consistency in these violations [from year to year],” Galassi said. “These violations relate to falls, contact with equipment and exposure to harmful substances.”

OSHA’s top 10 list of most cited violations for FY 2010 are:

1. Scaffolding, General
2. Fall Protection
3. Hazard Communication
4. Respiratory Protection
5. Ladders
6. Lockout/Tagout
7. Electrical, Wiring Methods
8. Powered Industrial Trucks
9. Electrical, General
10. Machine Guarding

According to Galassi, OSHA made approximately 94,000 citations in FY 2010. This list of top 10 represents between 48 and 49 percent of total violations issued.

“These are very important,” Galassi said. “[They are] lessons learned in the workplace … lessons to take home.”

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.

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