The annual list, announced at this year’s National Safety Council (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo, is determined from worksite inspections throughout the year and aims to alert and inform employers and safety professionals about frequent citations and violations to help prevent future reoccurrences.

The top 10 Most Frequently Cited Workplace Violations for 2023, :

• Fall Protection – General Requirements
• Hazard Communication
• Ladders
• Scaffolding
• Powered Industrial Trucks
• Lockout/Tagout
• Respiratory Protection
• Fall Protection – Training Requirements
• Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection
• Machine Guarding

OSHA will release more information on each hazard in the December issue of magazine.

Prevent Safety Violations Today

Advancements in workplace protections, paired with a robust safety program, can help identify and prevent violations and reinforce worker safety. Learn more about how connected wearables, virtual reality, and observational training programs can enhance operations and assist in controlling losses.

While they play a significant role in driving progress, these activities can also carry inherent risks that lead to serious accidents, injuries, and even fatalities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that from 2003 to 2017 there were a total of 373 trenching fatalities, 80% of which occurred within the construction industry. Engineering controls, protective equipment, and safe work practices can reduce hazards to workers and prevent trench cave-ins. Read on to explore crucial strategies for implementing safety measures that promote a secure jobsite and mitigate potential liabilities.

The Proactive Approach

• : Before beginning any trenching or excavation work, conduct a thorough analysis of the soil to determine its stability and potential for collapse. It’s also important to test for hazardous atmospheres, such as low oxygen or toxic gases before workers enter the trench. Ensure proper ventilation and respiratory protection when needed.
• Put in place robust protective systems such as sloping, benching, shoring, or trench boxes to prevent cave-ins. Perform daily inspections of the trench or excavation area and address any changes in soil conditions, water accumulation, or other potential hazards.
• Provide safe entry and exit points to the trench or excavation site, such as ladders, ramps, or stairways, that are located within 25 feet of workers. Guard against falling soil, equipment, and materials by placing them at a safe distance from the edge of the trench. Use barricades and warning signs to keep unauthorized personnel away from the site.
• Ensure workers receive extensive training encompassing hazard recognition, equipment operation, emergency response, and adherence to safety protocols. Develop an emergency action plan that includes procedures for rescue and medical attention in case of an incident. Ensure workers know how to respond to emergencies.
• Follow Regulatory Standards: Adhere to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations for trenching and excavation to ensure legal adherence and create a safe work environment.

Looking Ahead

Trenching and excavating safety is a critical aspect of the jobsite. By prioritizing the well-being of workers and adhering to OSHA regulations and guidelines, you can create a safer working environment while also minimizing potential liabilities. Ultimately, safety is not only a legal and ethical responsibility but also a strategic decision that contributes to the overall success of your bottom line.

91şÚÁĎÍř policyholders rely on our risk management team for an array of customized and innovative solutions to help ensure your company’s safe and successful workplace. Learn more about this area of our service.

The construction industry compromises 4% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and approximately eight million people work in the sector, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industry will need an in addition to the normal hiring pace to meet growth demand, according to a proprietary model developed by Associated Builders and Contractors.

Skilled laborer shortages have become a major issue in several construction markets, and retirements will only continue to drain the talent pool. In fact, 41%of the current U.S. construction workforce is expected to . 

In recognition of this important week, 91şÚÁĎÍř’s experts shared their thoughts on today’s construction trends and the importance of worker safety within the sector.

Risk Management

“Many small and mid-market sized construction firms have readily adopted the use of handheld tablets, smartphone applications and software in the field to assist with and streamline documentation-heavy processes, such as permitting, inspections and training. We’ve noticed an uptick in firms using safety-specific software to assist with, as an example, completing inspections and aggregating data for trend analysis and utilizing the software capability to ensure items are tracked, completed and used as performance indicators.”

Sean Yakicic, risk management expertise specialist

“Companies with a strong management commitment will always emphasize employee safety as part of their daily responsibilities,” said Terry. “This could be summarized by having the following priorities as their overall focus: safety, work quality, and production. “Without having employee safety as the number one goal, the other two items will not be accomplished effectively.”

Terry Hultman, risk management expertise specialist

“From what we’ve heard, today’s construction policyholders are keeping an eye out for qualified skilled labor shortages, commercial auto accidents, an increase in the age of the average worker, increasing, lagging home construction, consolidation, and material shortages.”

Todd Bernardoni, risk management expertise specialist

Field Marketing & Underwriting

“Prefabrication and modular construction are continuing trends across the construction industry and provide substantial efficiencies including high and consistent quality, reduced construction timelines, and increased project safety. These methods further reduce another considerable problem for owners and contractors by minimizing and recycling leftover materials to create a more sustainable construction project.”

Troy Dohmeyer, construction market segment director

“With years of underwriting expertise in the construction trades, we can offer risk management solutions, competitive products, and coverage enhancements to compete in the marketplace.”

Ken Munson, marketing underwriting specialist

“From what we’re seeing in the field, our construction policyholders are most excited about stable backlogs from continued high-demand in most industry sectors, advancements in technology helping to improve areas ranging from construction material supply chain to higher quality construction products and improved workplace safety, and the importance of building strong relationships with Risk Management partners to improve employee safety and higher employee retention.”

John Calloway, field underwriting director

LEARN MORE: CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP TRAINING

In-person occupational safety and health training programs can help reduce injuries and illnesses at work by identifying and addressing potential hazards. 91şÚÁĎÍř’s module-based construction leadership series for day-to-day supervisors provides courses such as project safety pre-planning, managing the cost of risk, quality and site-specific safety plans. Contact your 91şÚÁĎÍř risk management consultant to learn more and enroll your team today.

According to , the purpose of this policy change is to “make its penalties more effective in stopping employers from repeatedly exposing workers to life-threatening hazards or failing to comply with certain workplace safety and health requirements.”

What to Know

The agency’s new measures aim to be important enforcement tools to both deter employers from disregarding their responsibilities to protect workers, and to ensure compliance with OSHA standards and regulations. There are two main components to be aware of:

1. OSHA regional administrators and area office directors now have the authority to cite certain types of violations as “instance-by-instance citations” for cases where the agency identifies “high-gravity” serious violations of OSHA standards specific to certain conditions where the language of the rule supports a citation for each instance of non-compliance. These conditions include respiratory protection, falls, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, permit-required confined space, trenching and for cases with other-than-serious violations specific to recordkeeping. The purpose of this change is to ensure that OSHA personnel are applying increased citations when needed to discourage non-compliance.
2. OSHA has issued a reminder to its regional administrators and area directors of their authority not to group violations, and instead cite them separately in order to “more effectively encourage employers to comply with the intent of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.”

OSHA’s new guidance covers enforcement activity in the general industry, agriculture, maritime, and construction industries, and is currently set to become effective March 27. For establishments covered by the OSHA Electronic Reporting of Injuries and Illnesses requirement, information should also be submitted to OSHA electronically by March 2. To review the requirements or to check if you are covered, visit the OSHA Injury Tracking Application (ITA) .

Looking Ahead

It remains vital to regularly check to stay abreast of regulatory updates and remain in compliance. Employers are also encouraged to organize routine companywide training, review OSHA recordkeeping practices, perform regular audits, and keep proper documentation of all training, violations, and safety-related disciplinary actions to optimize operations and stay on top of industry changes.

91şÚÁĎÍř’s authorized OSHA outreach trainers conduct on-site classes for supervisors and key subcontractors, including safety and health principles to help meet OSHA requirements. To learn more, visit our Risk Management page.

LED Lighting

Safety at industrial sites is crucial, particularly in low-light or other challenging conditions, and recent LED technology helps workers navigate potential hazards. LEDs have that 80 to 90% of energy goes directly to the bulb, whereas traditional incandescent bulbs can waste more than 80% of their energy. LEDs also offer a distinct safety advantage by providing more visibility while using less power and can last thousands of hours without needing to be replaced.

Scene Lighting Innovations

For tight spaces and in difficult areas, recent innovations in offer users unique safety advantages. The newest scene lights feature a rotating head and are small and highly portable, making them easy to store and transport. They are also flexible enough to increase visibility in tight, dark spaces. New technology ensures battery life lasts for days, which can be vital in time-sensitive situations.

New Power Sources

New high-output USB rechargeable flashlights give users the ability to both charge on-the-go and eliminate the worry of not having batteries on hand when they are needed most. Other flashlights feature that can charge by windows while not in use. Options like these remove environmentally harmful batteries and helps reduce energy bills.

Hands-Free Lights

Today’s headlamps are increasingly lightweight, easy to use, and their hands-free operation helps to maximize worker safety. The newest innovations in hands-free technology, however, involve combining flashlights with other personal protective equipment (PPE). Jobsites are seeing lights that are built directly into workers’ vests, , or gloves for an added safety advantage.

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Safety managers give much thought to equipping and training employees for emergency situations and keeping them safe on the jobsite. But when it comes to one critical safety tool – flashlights – they may be overlooking the many recent innovations and options on the market today. By taking the time to familiarize themselves with these recent enhancements in flashlight technology, organizations not only enhance their productivity but help keep their workers safe in the process.

is observed annually every November and is a time to emphasize better community awareness of this mostly preventable disease that remains a major cause of illness and death, both at home and at work.

Effects in the Workplace

While , other risk factors that can cause lung cancer include exposure to asbestos, diesel fuel, nickel, arsenic, soot, or tar. These exposures are common risks in some workplaces, especially for workers in industries such as .

High-risk industries can take precautionary measures to help protect employees from leading causes of lung cancer, such as:

• Limit staff exposure to harmful carcinogens
• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks or respirators to those who may be at risk for exposure to airborne irritants
• Offer that help identify symptoms at an early stage
• Educate workers concerning the risks of lung disease
• Hire a specially trained health and safety expert to investigate the work environment for risks for occupational lung diseases

Many potential causes of lung cancer can be found in the workplace, but they are easy to control with the proper measures, for all employees.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a leading cause of occupational injuries and illnesses in the U.S. These disorders develop when workers are exposed to biomechanical forces that regularly exceed the worker’s physical capabilities, such as lifting, extreme postures and extended efforts. Overhead work is recognized as a leading cause of work-related musculoskeletal disorders to the shoulder, arm and neck.

Passive Exoskeletons to Prevent MSDs

An exoskeleton is a wearable device that provides physical assistance to the wearer through structural support and assistive torques. The devices are worn on the worker’s body and follows their movements. Because of the tight fit and following of the wearer’s body movements, job functions rarely need to be altered to accommodate the exoskeleton.

Passive exoskeletons are one device type that requires no energy source and are lighter and less bulky than powered exoskeletons. Passive exoskeletons take advantage of mechanical activation, springs and dampers to store energy and transfer force to the heavier muscles of the body. These actions can significantly remove physical strains on the arms, shoulders and neck while performing overhead work.

91şÚÁĎÍř Pilot Program

91şÚÁĎÍř is beginning a pilot program to evaluate the use and benefits of exoskeletons in the workplace. As part of the pilot, 91şÚÁĎÍř has partnered with Ottobock to provide shoulder exoskeletons to support policyholders performing overhead work. The exoskeleton provides shoulder and arm support and fits workers from 5’2 to 6’2 with adjustable support for the overhead work.

“The exoskeleton pilot will enable the company to obtain feedback from policyholders on the acceptability by workers, benefits of use and, ultimately, lead to improved worker safety for more policyholders,” said Dave Galbraith, 91şÚÁĎÍř’s AVP Risk Management and Technical Lead.

For more information or to participate in our pilot programs, contact your risk management consultant.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released its preliminary list of the most frequently cited safety standards for fiscal year 2022. The annual list, announced at this year’s , is determined from worksite inspections throughout the year and aims to alert employers and safety professionals about frequent citations and violations to help prevent their occurrence.

Notable among the list for 2022 is that fall protection remains at the top of the list for the 12th year in a row, followed by hazard communication and respiratory protection.

Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Workplace Violations for 2022 :

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements
2. Hazard Communication
3. Respiratory Protection
4. Ladders
5. Scaffolding
6. Lockout/Tagout
7. Powered Industrial Trucks
8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements
9. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection
10. Machine Guarding

OSHA will release more information on each type of hazard on the list in December.

Safety Programs Help Prevent Violations

Advancements in workplace protections, paired with a robust safety program, can help identify and prevent violations and reinforce worker safety. Learn more about how connected wearables, virtual reality, and observational training programs can enhance operations and assist in controlling losses.

is recognized each September to raise awareness about the importance of being prepared for emergencies and disasters. For businesses, this observance provides a great time to consider specific risks that could impact employee safety and develop your own preparedness plan.

According to businesses can face a variety of potential hazards related to natural disasters, health concerns, technology-related risks and accidents caused by humans. There are simple steps to create and implement an emergency preparedness plan for your business:

Identify Your Risks

Become familiar with the types of natural disasters in your location. Each season brings its own unique challenges, and it is imperative to plan for the risks your business may face for each. This can include earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, power outages from severe winds, and tornadoes.

Depending on the type of business, identify the likelihood of other kinds of disasters, such as health hazards in a healthcare setting, or information technology-related risks to equipment or processes.

Develop a Plan

Create a course of action for each type of risk and conduct safety drills for emergencies your employees may face. Your safety drill plans should include when to evacuate the premises and when to stay in place. In the event your employees are required to evacuate, include information in your plan on the routes that are available and how to access the company’s emergency kits.

Take Action

Determine how to communicate with your employees before, during and after a disaster. Assign safety officers for assisting others in the event of an emergency, and consider accommodations for employees with special medical needs, including prescriptions and equipment.

Businesses should also review their insurance plans as they relate to the typical risks in their locations. Having the right type and amount of insurance can make the difference between a quick or more complicated disaster recovery. Consult your agent who can assist in determining what perils your policy covers (and in what situations coverage takes effect) to decide if additional coverage may be needed.

Inspire Others

Take advantage of the resources at and use National Preparedness Month as the prompt to get a plan started for your company. Discuss your plans with others in your industry to help ensure those around you are also taking steps to protect their family or company.

While businesses may not be able to avoid a disaster, you can minimize the impacts by being prepared.

, an annual event organized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), strives to help reduce the rate of worker deaths and injuries through effective organizational safety planning and education and connects organizations with resources to keep their workforce safe.

Health and safety programs should play a vital part in any business, especially for roles in industries where workers may be at a higher risk of injury or illness. Businesses in construction, manufacturing and healthcare should consider becoming involved in Safe + Sound Week to improve safety for their teams. Below are just a few ways to participate:

• Enhance Your Programs: including toolkits, courses and recommended best practices for implementing health and safety programs for your business.
• Join a Safety Event: Identify virtual and in-person activities and events your team can participate in to further promote workplace safety by accessing the Safe + Sound week national .
• Share Your Participation: Participate in this year’s events (or proactively plan activities for next year) and receive a certificate of recognition from OSHA for your organization’s efforts.

Safe + Sound Week provides a great opportunity to maintain and improve your safety programs. Implementing strong practices can keep workers safe and healthy which supports your bottom line.

91şÚÁĎÍř’s Risk Management experts continuously pursue the latest in safety technology with an emphasis on preventing losses through safe work practices. In-person and digital occupational safety and health training programs and resources, such as connected wearables, virtual reality training, and organizational safety surveys, can help reduce and prevent injuries and illnesses at work by identifying and addressing potential hazards on the jobsite. Learn more about 91şÚÁĎÍř RM by clicking here.