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No surprises in OSHA's annual top 10 list of safety violations

An injured construction worker on the ground near a ladder

Violations includes many of the same issues workers face in San Diego

Few people suspect when they wake up in the morning and head to work that they are going to be injured on the job and have to file a workers’ compensation claim.

But workplace accidents happen with alarming regularity with serious - and sometimes fatal - results.

This year’s list of most-cited violations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors shows that little has changed in the way of worker safety.

In fact, for the 10th year in a row, failure to protect employees from falls was the top violation inspectors cited on job sites nationwide.

San Diego and the surrounding area are not immune to this disregard for employees' safety. From 2017 to 2020, the city was home to 11 worker fatalities and just last year OSHA levied two hefty fines against San Diego employers for safety violations. Of the fatalities, 6 were due to falls. Workers died falling from scaffolding, a freeway bridge, roof, trees, and, on two occasions, through a skylight.

2020’s top 10 worker safety violations

As we mentioned earlier, fall prevention failures were cited the most by OSHA inspectors in 2020 with more than 5,400 incidents recorded nationwide that year.

The rest of the top 10 list of most cited violations includes:

  • Hazard Communication - 3,199 violations
  • Respiratory Protection - 2,649
  • Scaffolding - 2,538
  • Ladders - 2,129
  • Lockout/Tagout - 2,065
  • Powered Industrial Trucks - 1,932
  • Fall Protection – Training Requirements - 1,621
  • Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection - 1,369
  • Machine Guarding - 1,313

Among the violations that showed increased incidents over 2019 are ladder violations and respiratory protection violations, according to OSHA’s preliminary data.

In 2020, San Diego businesses were cited and fined by OSHA for failures in respiratory protection and fall prevention.

OSHA reported in August that a San Diego management and technology support service provider settled an alleged fall protection violation by agreeing to pay a nearly $35,000 fine.

A few months later in October, OSHA fined a wood kitchen cabinet and countertop manufacturer more than $50,000 on 22 alleged worker safety violations, including 9 failures deemed “serious.” The citation that most inflated the final penalty was for not protecting employees from airborne hazards.

McLaughlin & Sanchez fights for injured workers

If you were injured in a workplace accident or developed an occupational illness, you probably have a lot of concerns about paying for your medical treatment and making ends meet while you can't work.

At McLaughlin & Sanchez, we can help alleviate those fears, answer questions, and help you weigh your options. We’ll explain your case in plain English or Spanish so that you understand what to expect.

Most injured workers get one chance to obtain the workers' comp benefits they need and deserve. Unfortunately, navigating the workers' compensation system without the help of an experienced attorney can be incredibly frustrating and confusing. Let our dedicated legal team handle your claim while you focus on your recovery.

Contact us today for a free consultation. Our award-winning attorneys proudly serve clients in the greater San Diego area and would be happy to talk to you about your potential case.

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