Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) releases its list of top violations as a reminder of the risks workers face every day. While roofing contractors might typically pay more attention to fall protection — the number one violation in 2015 (6,721 citations) — it’s critical that they also address other worksite dangers, especially the second-most cited violation of 2015 — hazard communication (5,192 citations).
Since 2001, hazard communication (HazCom) has held a top spot on OSHA’s common violations list. Each year, thousands of companies fail to meet even the most basic requirements for keeping workers safe from chemical hazards. The most HazCom citations are issued for failure to maintain a written HazCom plan, failure to train employees, failure to properly label chemicals and failure to maintain safety data sheets (SDSs) and provide employee access to the same.