What is Considered an OSHA Violation?
As an employer, it’s crucial to comply with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations to ensure a safe working environment for employees. One of the essential steps towards achieving this is identifying potential OSHA violations. This article will explain what is considered an OSHA violation, the categories of hazards, and some of the most common types of OSHA violations.
Definition of an OSHA Violation
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 declares it as the policy of the United States to "assure safe and healthy working conditions for working men and women." OSHA regulations dictate the standards that employers must follow to create a safe working environment, and the consequences for failure to comply with these standards can be severe.
CATEGORIES OF OSHA VIOLATIONS
OSHA regulations can be broadly categorized into the following four types:
Contents
1. serious
Serious violations carry fines between $12,675 to $129,000 or more, as well as the possibility of legal consequences. These are situations that can cause the loss of a limb or a significant degree of capacity for work; they create a substantial or reasonable chance of death.
- Inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Unstable Scaffolding
- No first-aid kit readily accessible
- Inadequate reporting of work-related injuries
2. wilful
Wilful violations occur when an employer shows disregard for the rule and purpose of the standards and shows no intention to comply.
- Falsification of records
- Willfully disregarding record-keeping requirements
- Requiring employees to take on risks without proper precautions
- Failure to enforce policies that prevent workplace safety
3. Other-than-serious
These violations do not have an immediate risk, but if left unaddressed, can lead to an employee injury or other workplace-related hazards.
- Improper storage of equipment
- Lack of fall protection on scaffolding
- Non-compliance with bloodborne pathogen protocols
4. general duty
OSHA violations can also result from failures to comply with general workplace safety standards and employer duty to provide safe work equipment and a workplace.
Common OSHA Violations
Some common OSHA violations include:
Falls from heights
• Falling objects
• Trip or slip hazards
