SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois OSHA has released its fiscal year 2019 top five list of safety violations for municipal public works departments across the state.
Hazard communications, or the label warnings of dangerous chemicals and training on the handling thereof, took the top spot.
“It sounds very common sense, but you want to make sure and evaluate and reassess your program as time dictates,” said Illinois OSHA Director Ben Hoven.
Machine guarding — safety guards on potentially dangerous machinery — was next, followed by lockout/tagout, which is the disabling of machinery that could harm a worker if energized, and walking working surfaces, which involves keeping walking surfaces clean.
Emergency action plans, or the communicating of emergency and evaculation plans, were the fifth-most common violation.
“Confusion of an emergency can make a bad situation worse, and can put lives at risk,” Hoven said.
“You’re going to want to create a plan, you’re going to want to make sure the action plan is shared with all employees in the entire company, and time and time again test the plan, monitor the plan, and improve the plan.”
Hoven said Illinois OSHA issues this report to state and local governments both for safety and compliance purposes.
