In early 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) raised the stakes for safety violations on worksites. The maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations surged to$16,131 per violation, up from $15,625 in 2023. For willful or repeated violations, the maximum penalty skyrocketed to $161,323 per violation, compared to $156,259 in 2023.
Top OSHA Violations in 2023
- Fall Protection (General Requirements): Topping the list with 7,271 violations.
- Ladders: Ranked third with 2,978 violations.
- Scaffolding: Comes in fourth with 2,859 violations.
- Fall Protection (Training Requirements): At number eight with 2,112 violations.
- Machine Guarding: Occupying the 10th spot with 1,644 violations.
Here’s how JLG Industries supports safety with comprehensive fall protection solutions in the listed areas.
Fall Protection Solutions
All JLG boom lifts are currently manufactured with lanyard anchorage points to support fall protection. These lanyard anchorage points meet or exceed OSHA standards for static pull tests and are designed to be used by one person at a time.
The ANSI/SAIA Standard for Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (A92.22) requires that all boom lift operators and occupants wear fall-protection devices.
OSHA’s fall protection rule requires the use of a full-body harness for fall arrest when working from an aerial work platform. The full-body harness should be attached via a lanyard to a lanyard anchorage point. Compliance is required for all who own, lease or use JLG equipment.
There are no current requirements by ANSI/SAIA, CSA or OSHA requiring individuals to wear a fall-protection device on scissor lifts or vertical mast lifts; however, JLG manufactures new scissor and vertical mast lifts with lanyard anchorage points standard. JLG recommends a full-body harness, used with a lanyard attached to an authorized lanyard anchorage point, for operating JLG scissor lifts or vertical mast lifts that do not have a 30-inch maximum lanyard length limit. A fall restraint system (not a fall arrest system) must be utilized where fall protection equipment is used on machines with a 30-inch maximum lanyard length limit.
Rethinking Ladder and Scaffolding Safety
Ladder falls are one of the leading causes of workplace injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not only that, but their use increases ergonomic stress on the body and can impede productivity.
Ladder falls and overuse injuries as the result of ladder use have many negative outcomes. In addition to employee injury, falls can lead to lost time, reducing productivity and costly workers’ compensation claims.
Today, more and more companies are looking to replace ladders and scaffolding with products that offer a more productive way to work at height. JLG’s low-level access equipment offers a safer alternative to traditional ladders. Whether it’s maintenance tasks, inspections, or repairs, JLG low-level access equipment supports greater worker comfort and confidence at heights of up to 16 ft.
JLG low-level access solutions include:
- Push around lifts, which increase efficiency with powered lifting and less setup time for jobs like electrical/mechanical, HVAC, cleaning, painting and drywall work.
- EcoLifts, eco-friendly ladder replacement options to keep operators safe and protect flooring in places like hospitals, schools and office buildings.
Machine Guarding Solutions
In the area of machine guarding, JLG offers several layers of solutions in an effort to improve operator safety.
Foot switches, which have been around for decades, help prevent inadvertent operation of mobile elevating work platforms. To operate boom lift function controls, users must first depress a foot switch, then use controls within seven seconds. If a user’s foot leaves the switch, the machine will stop immediately.
In addition to foot switches, JLG protects against inadvertent operation of its boom lifts through physical joystick locks and guarding of toggle switches. JLG’s SkyGuard enhanced control panel protection offers another layer of operator protection. Now standard on most JLG mobile elevating work platforms, or available as an aftermarket solution for most older boom lifts, SkyGuard offers distinct safety advantages, decreasing the likelihood of caught-between injuries while working at height.
SkyGuard SkyLine, an evolution of JLG’s original SkyGuard technology, may prevent an operator from being forced into the control panel. When the SkyGuard sensor is activated, the system stops all boom lift functions, then momentarily reverses most functions that were in use when the system was activated.
The above features enhance operator protection without compromising productivity. But that’s not all—JLG’s commitment to safety drives us to continually explore new ways to improve machine safety and protect workers from potential hazards.
Commitment to Safety and Innovation
Beyond creating products and training to meet ANSI requirements and prevent OSHA violations, JLG includes the ANSI Manual of Responsibilities in the enclosed manual box on all applicable Mobile Elevating Work Platforms, so guidance on safety practices is always within reach.
For more, visit www.jlg.com.