Understanding OSHA Violations: What You Need to Know

Did you know in 2023 5,283 fatal work injuries occurred?

That is a large number of injuries and some of them could have been easily avoided. OSHA tries to reduce the number of injuries or deaths that occur on a work site.

They do this by setting regulations and performing regular inspections, to ensure everyone is staying compliant.

In today’s blog, we will be diving into what OSHA is, why it is important, some of the different and most common types of violations, and finally how you can prevent them.

What is OSHA and Why is it Important?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration more widely known as OSHA, has existed since the 1970s. OSHA helps to ensure the safety and healthy working conditions for all United States employees.

To help ensure the working conditions meet their expectations, OSHA has set rules and regulations that require employers to provide a safe working environment. If they discover the employer is not complying with their guidelines, an inspection will start in the workplace. OSHA can discover non-compliance in a multitude of different ways.

In most cases these inspections happen due to an employee complaint, or if there is an increase in an employer's fatality report.  OSHA will also schedule routine visits to inspect the working environment to ensure everyone is staying compliant.

If during their inspection they find something that is against compliance, the employer will get fined. If it’s determined that the workplace is unsafe, OSHA will close down the site until it has regained compliance.

What are the different types of OSHA Violations?

If an organization is not being compliant there are a few different violations that the employer can receive. The most common is the General Duty Clause, which happens when a workplace is not free from hazards that could cause serious injuries or death.

If you are not being compliant there are a series of categories that the violation can fall under:

Serious Violations

A serious violation is when the OSHA inspector deems they see something likely to either cause death or an injury.  

An example of when a serious violation is if an employee is operating heavy machinery, without any training. Due to them having no training on how to use this equipment, it could cause a fatal accident or injury.

Willful Violations

A willful violation is when an employer is intentionally ignoring the OSHA rules and regulations.

An example of when a willful violation was back in 2014. A company in Ohio got cited for a willful violation, due to the employers not replacing a crane even though it had broken safety mechanisms.

Repeat Violations

Repeat Violations are when an employer has committed the same violation in the past. This violation helps prevent employers from falling back into their old ways of being non-compliant.

Other-than-Serious violations

This violation sounds like exactly what it is, it is a violation employers will receive if there is a minor hazard, and no harm to your employees.

Things such as missing documentation or even the improper storage of materials can cause this violation.

Failure to Abate Violations

Failure to Abate violations is the easiest kind of violation to avoid. This violation occurs when an organization fails to fix the issue by a set deadline. Depending on where the workplace is and why you got a citation, will determine how long you have to fix the issue. In most situations, you will have 15 days to resolve it before they do a reinspection. A Failure to Abate Violation comes as the result of not addressing the issue.

If an organization does not comply with OSHA’s rules and regulations, it can face various types of violations. Each type of violation comes with its own set of penalties and resolution types. Staying proactive and up to date on OSHA’s regulations can help reduce any fines, or harm to employees.

What are the Common OSHA Violations?

If your organization receives a violation, there are a few different reasons they may have received it.

Fall Protection

Did you know that In 2024 there were 6,307 fall protection violations given to employers? Fall protection violations occur when there is a falling hazard in the workplace.  These violations appear more in the construction and maintenance industries as they are more likely to be in a situation where falling is a possibility.

Hazard Communication:

In 2024, there were 2,888 Hazard Communications violations. This regulation is to ensure there are safety labels on boxes with hazardous materials, especially when shipping them. It also requires that the employees who work with the chemicals are thoroughly trained on how to handle them.

Machine Guarding:

When operating heavy machinery, a lot of things are moving constantly. If there is a broken piece of machinery, and it goes flying off it can severely hurt or kill someone. This is why OSHA requires companies to properly gauge the equipment so there is no possibility of something flying off and hitting someone.

Even though these common OSHA violations depend on what industry you are in. It is vital to be proactive to reduce any risk of fines, or any additional penalties.

Two Real-World Examples of Major OSHA Violations

Unfortunately, some organizations do not take OSHA’s standards seriously and it causes large accidents, and maybe death.

Violation 1: Kleen Energy

In 2010 in Connecticut, there was a large gas explosion at their main power plant. As a result, six employees died, and 50 employees sustained an injury.

This accident resulted in the organization receiving a fine of $8,347,000 in fines.

Violation 2: Samsung Guam, Inc

In 1995, Samsung got a $8,260,000 penalty from OSHA. This violation was due to the unsafe scaffolding conditions, which resulted in multiple injuries and a fatality.

What are the Best Practices for Maintaining OSHA Compliance?

Now that you have a better understanding of what OSHA is and the different types of violations, let's talk about how to remain OSHA compliant.

Regular Training:

Regularly training employees specifically on OSHA regulations and safety procedures will help reduce violations. The use of ongoing training programs is important to maintaining a safety-conscious workplace.

Conduct Regular Safety Inspections:

Employers should regularly perform safety inspections, to ensure the employees are keeping the environment safe. Performing these internal inspections can help identify potential hazards before OSHA does.

Update Safety Equipment:

Unfortunately, some safety equipment expires or requires an update. Employers must have a routine schedule on when to check the equipment to ensure they meet OSHA’s standards.

Stay Informed:

OSHA’s standards are constantly changing, this is due to the new introduction of technology, or even change of the industry trends. Staying informed on these changes will help reduce the chance of you receiving a violation.

Understanding how to remain OSHA compliant is the best way to avoid any nasty violations or worse fines.

Conclusion: Why Understanding OSHA Violations is Crucial for Workplace Safety

OSHA plays a vital role when it comes to ensuring the safety and health of United States employees.

They do this by setting up clear regulations and performing routine inspections. If an organization is non-compliant they will risk fines, violations and even the shutting down of the operation.

Organizations need to stay proactive by providing regular training, conducting regular safety inspections, staying updated on the safety equipment and finally staying informed about the changes in OSHA’s standards.