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OSHA Reports Increased Citations in Fiscal 2003

The Department of Labor last month released annual enforcement statistics that can help home builders identify areas that deserve special attention in ensuring that their work sites are safe.

In fiscal year 2003, which ended on Sept. 30, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited employers for 83,760 violations, which was nearly an 8% increase. Nearly 60,000 of these violations were considered serious, an 11% increase over fiscal 2002, which was the best year on record for rates of injuries and fatalities in the workplace.

The top 10 most violated standards in the construction industry for fiscal 2003 were:

1. General Requirements for All Types of Scaffolding (1926.451) — This was the most frequently violated OSHA standard overall, surpassing the number of general industry citations for Hazard Communication, with 9,476 violations and more than $9.1 million in penalties. To find out more about scaffold compliance, click here.
2. Fall Protection: Scope/Applications/Definitions (1926.501) — 5,870 violations and almost $7.8 million in penalties.
3. Excavations, General Requirements (1926.651) — 2,121 violations and almost $3.3 million in penalties.
4. Ladders (l926.1053) — 2,063 violations and $1.07 million in penalties.
5. Electrical Wiring Methods, Components and Equipment, General (1926.405) — 1,529 violations and more than $443,000 in penalties.
6. Excavations, Requirements for Protective Systems (1926.652) — 1,505 violations and almost $4.9 million in penalties.
7. Head Protection (1926.100) — 1,474 violations and more than $927,000 in penalties.
8. Construction, General Safety and Health Provisions (1926.020) — 1,454 violations and almost $1.5 million in penalties.
9. Manually Propelled Mobile Ladder Stands and Scaffolds (1926.453) — 1,420 violations and almost $1.2 million in penalties.
10. Fall Protection, Training Requirements (1926.503) — 1,356 violations and almost $690,000 in penalties.

For more information on construction safety issues, e-mail George Middleton at NAHB or call him at 800-368-5242 x8590.

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