OSHA Announces 2020 List of Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards

On March 2, OSHA announced its annual listing of the Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards for FY2020 (ending 9/30/20).

The perennial leaders on the list continue to be No. 1 – Fall Protection (10 years in a row at No. 1), and No. 2 – Hazard Communication (eight years in a row at this spot). The other eight most cited standards are very familiar as well. Some may have moved in position, a little up or a little down, but they are the same eight standards making the list for the past three years.

Takeaways From the 2020 List

1. The effects of the pandemic known as COV-

ID-19 can be seen in the numbers on the chart.

The total citations for 2020 showed a drop in almost every category and overall citations dropped by 10% from 2019. The drop can be attributed to the temporary closing of many U.S. facilities including manufacturing and industrial plants as precautionary measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. As a result, most industries saw dramatic reductions in manhours worked. In addition, OSHA Compliance Officers were restricted from normal inspection activities for portions of the year per directives from OSHA Regional and National offices. 2. The only category that saw an increase in citations (+8%) in 2020 was the Respiratory

Protection Standard that moved from fifth to third spot. OSHA has been more focused on respiratory protection due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the increased use of N95 and other respirators in workplaces across the U.S., particularly in health care and related establishments. 3. Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) citations saw the largest drop in citations (-21%), again most likely due to at least temporary work stoppages in on-going construction projects

and postponements in proposed building renovations, factory upgrades, expansions, etc. 4. In addition to COVID-19 impacting the citation count, there has been a gradual decline in citations over the last four years. This is due in part to the Administration and OSHA’s establishment of a successful program that emphasized increased safety training for employers as an alternate to increased penalties. OSHA assigned personnel as Safety Compliance

Specialists to reach out and assist and work with employers in bringing their workplaces into OSHA Compliance. They also provided free safety training and education for employees. The success of the program could be seen (pre-COVID) with inspections remaining fairly constant, while both citations and serious injuries trended downward.

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What is Ahead for OSHA in 2021?

1. These trends of diminished enforcement by

OSHA appear to be changing direction. With the new Biden Administration and DOL Secretary Marty Walsh both being more aligned with labor than with employers, there is certain to be an increased focus on workplace safety and also toward stronger and more targeted enforcement. 2. COVID-19 will continue to be an important safety issue throughout 2021 and possibly beyond. President Biden’s January Executive Orders included directives to DOL and

OSHA to reinvigorate inspection activities and enforcement of COVID-19 hazards and safety violations in all workplaces. 3. In response to the Executive Orders OSHA issued on March 15, 2021, new revisions to their previously published COVID-19

Guidelines and also established COVID-19 enforcement as a National Emphasis Program. The goal is to expedite inclusion of the COVID-19 Guidelines as part of the

OSHA Standards. 4. Based on early actions, and with organized labor getting the ear of the White House and

Cabinet more than ever, it strongly suggests that OSHA will be increasing its number of inspectors, moving forward with more stringent workplace regulations overall, and getting tougher on employers for non-compliance. n