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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is constantly putting out new safety materials and procedures for the workplace, especially dangerous sites like construction. With regulations regarding everything from communication to operating forklifts to working in confined spaces, just about any hazard imaginable has a safety regulation attached to it. While this may seem excessive or annoying, these regulations are paramount in preventing workplace injuries and, therefore, reducing workers’ compensation claims.

Every year, OSHA releases the most frequent violations from their inspections all over the nation. It is vital to understand where the dangers exist in the workplace so they can be corrected, reducing the frequency of injury on the job site. Here are the most recent top 10 violations, documented during the fiscal year 2014.

1. Improper fall protection
2. Communicating inadequately in hazardous situations
3. Unsafe scaffolding
4. Not wearing appropriate respiratory protection
5. Improper use/storage of powered industrial trucks
6. Not taking proper precautions around hazardous energy sources (lockout/Tagout)
7. Inadequate ladder safety
8. Not using correct electrical wiring methods
9. Improper machine guarding
10. Not following general electrical requirements

These top 10 violations represent some of the most preventable workers’ injuries on the worksite. It is vital to your safety, as well as the safety of others around you, to understand and follow OSHA’s regulations. Even if you do not know the word for word, most of the rules are simply common sense.

The fact of the matter, though, is that you can still get injured on a Philadelphia Jobsite, even if you follow each regulation to the letter. If this happens, it is crucial you contact an attorney who can walk you through the steps of filing for workers’ compensation.