The issue of worker safety in institutional and commercial facilities can easily get lost in the shuffle among daily conversations and decisions related to energy efficiency, sustainability, retrofits and budgets. But the issue of regulatory compliance targeting worker safety is among the their highest priorities — and one that can be costly if ignored.
One annual event that reminds managers and their organizations of the importance of worker safety is the release of the top 10 safety violations from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s directorate of enforcement programs, recently presented the agency’s top 10 violations for 2018, according to Manufacturing Talk Radio. While the list is similar to previous years, one standard saw its first appearance on the top 10.
Among the top violations on this year’s list are: duty to provide fall protection; hazard communication; scaffolds; respiratory protection; and lockout/tagout.
The newcomer to the list, Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment/Ear and Eye Protection, replaces electrical wiring methods. The most common issues cited when it comes to protective equipment include: failing to provide eye and face protection where employees are exposed to hazards from flying objects; failing to provide protection from caustic hazards, gases, and vapors; and allowing employees to wear combinations of prescription and safety eyewear that compromise the protective qualities.
This Quick Read was submitted by Dan Hounsell — dan.hounsell@tradepressmedia.com — editor-in-chief of Facility Maintenance Decisions, and Facilitiesnet.com.
