OSHA recently announced its fiscal year 2012 top 10 most frequently cited violations in the workplace. Many of these violations make the top 10 list year after year, although the order changes slightly. Note that fall protection has garnered the top spot for the last two years.

What does this mean and why is it important? First, there is a direct correlation between the hazards that are allowed to go unchecked in the workplace and the number of injuries and deaths attributed to that hazard. Second, many of the same hazards are found not only in the construction and manufacturing environments, but also in office environments and while working around your home.

The OSHA top 10 violations are listed below.

1. Fall protection (29 CFR 1926.501)
2. Hazard communication standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)
3. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
4. Respiratory protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134)
5. Control of hazardous energy (lockout / tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
6. Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178)
7. Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
8. Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry (29 CFR 1910.305)
9. Machines, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR  1910.212)
10. Electrical systems design, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1926.501)