FY 2013 Citation Trends Update – General Industry and Construction

At March’s ABA OSHA Midwinter Conference, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor, Richard Fairfax revealed OSHA’s citation data for the 2013 fiscal year thus far (10/1/12 to 2/10/13). The same perennial standards made OSHA’s Top 10 list, but current trends suggest inspections may be down this year.

Here’s OSHA’s Top 10 most cited general industry standards for FY 2013 (10/1/12 to 2/10/13):

  1. Hazard Communication
  2. Electrical/Wiring Methods
  3. Lockout/Tagout
  4. Respiratory Protection
  5. Powered Industrial Trucks
  6. Machine Guarding
  7. Electrical, General Requirements
  8. Bloodborne Pathogens
  9. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  10. Guarding Floor & Wall Openings

The same standards that made OSHA’s Overall Top 10 standards (general industry and construction) for FY 2012 are still there - Hazard Communication, Electrical/Wiring Methods, Lockout/Tagout, Respiratory Protection, Powered Industrial Trucks, Machine Guarding. But it looks like Electrical/Wiring Methods has jumped several other frequently cited general industry standards to take the number two position.

Now, here’s the OSHA Top 10 most cited construction standards for FY 2013 (10/1/12 to 2/10/13) where fall protection and scaffolding still continue to hold top spots:

  1. Fall Protection
  2. Scaffolding
  3. Ladders
  4. Fall Protection, Training
  5. Hazard Communication
  6. Head Protection
  7. Eye & Face Protection
  8. Excavation Requirements
  9. Aerial Lifts
  10. Safety & Health Provisions

It also bears mentioning that OSHA inspections are down this fiscal year. In FY 2012, OSHA conducted 40,961 inspections. In the first four months of FY 2013, OSHA has conducted 12,546. Assuming that inspections were equally distributed over a 12-month period in FY 2012, OSHA inspections are down about 8% in FY 2013. Whether or not this is a result of the recent budget sequestration that hit March 1, 2013 is yet to be seen.

We will have more information on OSHA citation trends as the numbers become available for this fiscal year.

For more information, please contact Mark Dreux, Head of the Arent Fox OSHA Group, at 202-857-6405.

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