Most Frequently Cited

Construction
Standards
Federal OSHA CY 2008

January 2009

Top 10 Construction Violations

#1 1926.501(b)(13) Fall protection Residential construction 6 or more

Fall protection Unprotected sides & edges

#3 1926.453(b)(2)(v) Aerial lifts Fall protection
#4 1926.100(a) Head protection
#5 1926.503(a)(1) Fall hazards training program
#6 1926.451(g)(1) Scaffolds Fall protection
#7 1926.1053(b)(1) Portable ladders 3 above landing surface
#8 1926.451(e)(1) Scaffolds - Access
#9 1926.451(b)(1) Scaffolds Platform construction
#10 1926.454(a) Training for employees using scaffolds
#2 1926.501(b)(1)

#1 1926.501 (b)(13)
Most the falls are
those with no slide
guards
Workers can slip on
shingle or felt to start
slipping
No slide protection used

Shingling Abatement
Slide guards used when:
Roof Slope 8/12 or less
Eaves to lower level is 25
feet or less
Otherwise Convention Fall
protection must be used
Must be through each
truss with a 16p nail
A 2x4 nailed flat is not
acceptable

Example of slide
guard.

Roof Sheathing
Conventional Fall
Protection or
Alternative Fall
Protection requiring:

Monitor
CAZ
Slideguard
Training
No slide guards used

Sheathing Abatement
Conventional Fall Protection
used

Slideguards used on the

roofs.

Top Plate
The worker has to get on
the top plate to give
leverage and assist the
center man with the large
truss.
The interim protection
rules, NAHB, RCEC, and
carpenters all state that it
is a violation, however,
many contractors still
think it is ok.

Floor Openings
Many falls through
openings were stair
openings

Violation: Floor opening

with no guardrails.

Floor Opening Abatement

Violation: 4' x 8' sheets of plywood

covering a stairway opening to the
basement of a house. Only four
nails hold the two covers. The
cover is not marked.

No Violation: Guardrails
used

#2 1926.501(b)(1)

No midrails on the
commercial building.
Found quite a bit at
elevator shafts and
stairwells.

#3 1926.453(b)(2)(v)

No Fall Protection in
aerial lifts.
Worker in photo is
wearing a full body
harness for fall arrest.

#4 1926.100(a)

No Hard Hats
When working around
the bucket of a back
hoe, hard hats should
be worn.

#5 1926.503 (a)(1)

No fall protection
training

#6 1926.451 (g)(1)

No guard rails on
scaffolds.
Often ends are not
protected.
The cross bracing
may serve as ONE of
the rails only if it
meets certain height
criteria.

#7 1926.1053(b)(1)

Ladder not extending

over the edge 3 feet

#8 1926.451 (e)(1)

Unsafe access to
scaffold.
No using the cross
bracing to climb.
Have a maximum
spacing between
rungs of 16 3/4 inches

#9 1926.451(b)(1)

Scaffolds not fully

planked.

#10 1926.454(a)

Scaffold Training

Next five

1926.21(b)(2) Training
1926.652(a)(1) Cave-in protection
1926.102(a)(1) Eye protection
1926.20(b)(1) Safety programs
1926.20(b)(2) Competent person

Resources
www.osha.gov
Compliance Assistance Specialists in OSHA
offices
On-site Consultation
Quick Takes
http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/quicktakes
OSHA Quick Cards
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