Respiratory protection standard rises to 2nd most cited violation for 2021 fiscal year.

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As we continue to live in a world plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory safety has remained a primary focus for OSHA’s inspectors as they continue to work towards protecting worker health and safety in such challenging times. This has seen the respiratory protection standard rising through the ranks in the top 10 most violated safety standards, moving to the 2nd most violated safety standard for the 2021 fiscal year.

This year’s top 10:

  1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 5,295 violations
  2. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,527
  3. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,026
  4. Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,948
  5. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 1,947
  6. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 1,698
  7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,666
  8. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,452
  9. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1,420
  10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,113

Please note: This is preliminary data from Oct. 1, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021.

Works Cited
Shepard, S. (2021, October 12). OSHA Top 10 for FY 2021 Announced at NSC Congress. Retrieved from Occupational Health & Safety: https://ohsonline.com/articles/2021/10/12/osha-top-10-for-fy-2021-announced-at-nsc-congress.aspx