2016 has been a big year for OSHA, as the organization has raised the cost of fines for safety violations for the first time since 1990. Made, effective in August, fines were raised 78%, making the cost of a serious violation $12,471. The construction industry is by far the most affected by OSHA regulations, as it accounted for 43.3% of all citations, 52.92% of all inspections, and 44.16% of all penalties assessed from October 2015 to September 2016. Of all specific types of contractors, roofing contractors account for the largest quantity of citations (6,924), following by framing contractors (3,810), and masonry contractors (2,501).

With a total of 25,128 citations issued to contractors over the past 12 months, it’s important to understand the most frequently cited OSHA standards to keep your company out of trouble and your employees safe:

1. Duty to Have Fall Protection (1926.501)

5,718 citations
$20,679,898 in penalties

2. General Requirements- Scaffolds (1926.451)

3,141 citations
$6,486,753 in penalties

3. Ladders (1926.1053)

2,126 citations
$3,793,655 in penalties

4. Training Requirements (1926.503)

1,259 citations
$1,411,787 in penalties

5. Eye and Face Protection (1926.102)

1,201 citations
$2,291,785 in penalties

6. General Safety and Health Provisions (1926.20)

756 citations
$1,358,820 in penalties

7. Hazard Communication (1910.1200)

753 citations
$427,506 in penalties

8. Head Protection (1926.100)

753 citations
$1,177,452 in penalties

9. Aerial Lifts (1926.453)

739 citations
$1,559,109 in penalties

10. Fall protection Systems (1926.502)

604 citations
$1,037,050 in penalties

Source: Frequently Cited OSHA Standards (Construction) | OSH

Featured

Jun 15, 2021

Hilti Officially Releases EXO-01 Exoskeleton, Names Price

Jun 15, 2021

Last summer, Hilti announced that they had developed their first exoskeleton designed for construction tradespeople in a partnership with Ottobuck, a prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton provider. Earlier this month, Hilti officially released the exoskeleton, announced more details, and published its retail price on their website.

Jun 15, 2021

May 25, 2021

How to Minimize Risk on Your Construction Site

May 25, 2021

[guest post] It’s a morbid statistic, but the construction industry experiences more workplace deaths than any other. With so many potential hazards, heavy-duty machinery, and power tools, it’s perhaps not surprising that serious accidents are relatively commonplace.

May 25, 2021

balfour beatty covid-19 safety orientation video.PNG

Apr 13, 2021

[VIDEO] How Balfour Beatty is Handling COVID-19 Safety on the Jobsite

Apr 13, 2021

Even though we’re over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is still threatening the health of construction’s workers and taking a toll on project timelines. It’s likely that your company has already determined the best course of action to help mitigate the risk of spreading the virus on your jobsites, but it’s never too late to learn from another contractor.

Apr 13, 2021

Mar 29, 2021

1 Year Later: The Effects of Coronavirus on Construction

Mar 29, 2021

It’s been a little over a year since the coronavirus pandemic sent the entire world into a period of uncertainty, heartache, and panic. The construction industry itself has undertaken many different challenges, above and beyond keeping their people safe on the jobsite, many of which no one could have expected.

Mar 29, 2021

Mar 15, 2021

Doosan Announces Industry First “Transparent Bucket” to Wheel Loader to Eliminate Blind Spots

Mar 15, 2021

“You make a better door than a window!” is what I imagine loader operators constantly yell at the bucket in front of them (or maybe I’m just projecting based on my experience of having the habit of sitting right in front of the TV as a kid). Either way, operators may not be yelling that in the future, as equipment manufacturer, Doosan, has introduced what they claim is an industry first “transparent” bucket.

Mar 15, 2021

Mar 8, 2021

Cool Tools: World’s First Dry Cut 7-1/2” Portable Tile Saw

Mar 8, 2021

Reducing dust when cutting tile is important for many reasons (including safety and cleanliness), but wet tile saws can be a pain to use, with the slurry created spraying all around the work station and cold weather making the saw much more difficult to use outside. iQ Power Tools has a solution for that: the world’s first 7” portable dry table saw with integrated dust control.

Mar 8, 2021

Mar 2, 2021

National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction Starts May 3

Mar 2, 2021

In the construction industry, falls from height are continuously the leading cause of jobsite injuries, fatalities, and, as a result, OSHA citations. From May 3-May 7, OSHA invites construction employers and stakeholders to take part in their 8th annual National Safety Stand Down to Prevent Falls in Construction.

Mar 2, 2021

Feb 24, 2021

Crane Collapses on Jobsite in Syracuse, NY, No Injuries Reported

Feb 24, 2021

On Tuesday morning, February 23, the Syracuse Fire Department responded to a call about a collapsed crane on a construction site near the university. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

Feb 24, 2021

Feb 23, 2021

Finally, an Air-Conditioned Hard Hat is on the Horizon

Feb 23, 2021

It seems a little odd to be talking about air-conditioning when much of the United States hit some incredibly low temperatures in recent days, but a product that I learned about recently is just too exciting to ignore. Announced at CES 2021, a research company has unveiled an air-conditioned hard hat (ACHH) that can reduce the ambient temperature up to 22 degrees Fahrenheit!

Feb 23, 2021

Feb 1, 2021

The 7 Biggest Construction Safety Stories of 2020

Feb 1, 2021

2020 was a challenging year in many respects, but none greater than from a safety standpoint. The coronavirus pandemic placed the notion of “people over profits” under the microscope, while also balancing the needs of their employees to continue to make an income under difficult circumstances. While the pandemic was a large part of the construction safety conversation last year, there were several other developments to take note of for your projects in the future.

Feb 1, 2021