In Maryland and across the nation, workplace safety is a common topic of discussion. In certain jobs, workers are notoriously vulnerable to injuries, medical costs, lost time on the job, permanent disability and even death. Still, it is wise to remember that work injuries can happen in any kind of job. Researchers, state and federal government agencies, and lawmakers are responsible for taking steps to ensure these workers are protected. Workers’ compensation benefits are critical to help these workers with their treatment and covering lost wages. One important part of workplace safety is understanding the most common reasons for injuries and safety violations that are part of the problem.
Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced its top 10 safety violations so far for 2019. This is only the preliminary list as the year is not over. The OSHA is handles oversight into workplace safety and cites businesses for violations. For the ninth year in a row, fall protection was the most common reason for citations. A new cause for concern from 2018 — eye and face protection — was again in the top 10 for the second consecutive year.
A leader of the National Safety Council (NSC) states that the list is beneficial for workers and everyone else across the U.S. to know there is recourse to keep them safe and make certain workplaces are adhering to the rules and are vigilant. The most common reasons for violations are as follows: fall protection; hazard communication; scaffolds; lockout and tag out issues; respiration safety; ladder safety; industrial trucks; training needs for fall protection; machine guards; and eye and face protection.
Although the OSHA and other entities are tasked with citing employers who do not provide proper safety procedures, there will be unavoidable incidents in which workers are hurt in accidents on the job. There can be myriad reasons for this including workplace violations, mistakes by colleagues and more. After a workplace accident, people who have been injured must remember their rights for workers’ compensation benefits.
