This month OSHA revealed the number of federal violations, thus far, for this year. Apparently these categories (known as standards) are repeat offenders each year. Keep in mind that these numbers are only for federal violations. However, state OSHA plans typically match the federal numbers.

• 7,592 Scaffolding violations
• 5,099 Hazard communication violations
• 5,095 Fall protection violations
• 3,145 Respiratory protection violations
• 2,973 Lockout/tagout violations
• 2,577 Powered industrial trucks violations
• 2,412 Electrical wiring violations
• 2,113 Ladder violations
• 2,054 Machine guarding violations
• 1,848 General electrical violations

Although I don't have statistics to back up my opinion on these violations, I have usually found most violations occur because our employees have become over confident in their work. Tell me you can't imagine one of your employees stepping onto an unbalanced ladder because they don't have to climb very high and it's going to be for just a minute while they grab that widget. Do you have an employee who doesn't bother to turn off the electricity while fixing that outlet because it's a pain to go to the main panel to turn it off and back on?

I'm not good with heights, so the scaffolding violations are pretty scary for me. My house is only one story and I'm having a hard time talking myself up the ladder to paint the trim at the roof peaks! There is no way you'd get me up on shaky scaffolding. I imagine the people who use it don't have my fears, but falling can still severely injure them.

The easiest-to-fix violation is the second one regarding hazard communication. That's YOUR problem, not one you can pass off on your employees. Are you a violator? Do you have regular training on your Emergency Action Plan and your Injury and Illness Prevention Plan? Do you even have those plans?

Remember that, as the employer, it is your responsibility to create a safe working environment and to ensure your employees know what to do in the case of an emergency and accident.