OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Violations for 2019

For the past two years, PPE for eye and face protection has come in at #10 on OSHA's annual list of the most cited violations, bolstering the case for proper use and effective education in this area.

#10: Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection

Standard: 1926.102

Total violations: 1,630

Fiscal year 2018 ranking: No. 10 (1,528 violations)

This standard addresses appropriate personal protective equipment for workers exposed to eye or face hazards, such as flying particles and chemical gases or vapors.

Top 5 Sections Cited:

1. 1926.102(a)(1) The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gasses or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation. – 1,565 violations
2. 1926.102(a)(2) The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses eye protection that provides side protection when there is a hazard from flying objects. Detachable side protectors (e.g., clip-on or slide-on side shields) meeting the pertinent requirements of this section are acceptable. – 51
3. 1926.102(a)(3) The employer shall ensure that each affected employee who wears prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards wears eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design, or wears eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of the prescription lenses or the protective lenses. – 8
4. 1926.102(b)(1) Protective eye and face protection devices must comply with consensus standards. – 5
5. 1926.102(c)(1) Selection of shade numbers for welding filter. (Note: this section includes a table guiding the selection of appropriate filter lenses or plates.) – 1

Based on OSHA Information System data from Oct. 1, 2018 to Sept. 30, 2019. Data current as of Nov. 1, 2019.

Read the article in its entirety for the complete Top 10 list as well as a Q & A with Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA's Directorate of Enforcement Programs in Safety & Health Magazine.

Previously Featured in Safety & Health Magazine.

Go to MSCDirect.com to browse PPE products, including protective eyewear from KleenGuard, a brand of Kimberly-Clark Professional.