No Longer No. 1
By Steve Smith 

In most activities, the goal is to be No. 1; the leader; the one that everyone else tries to catch up to and emulate. But in a few rare cases, being first is the last place that you want to be. 

So it is with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) Top 10 list of most citations. 

Perennially, “scaffolding” (which, by OSHA’s definition, covers all types of equipment used for working at height, including supported and suspended scaffolds, mast-climbing work platforms and aerial lift equipment) has been No. 1 on OSHA’s Top 10 list of citations in the construction industry. Incidents involving scaffolding often result from improper placement and setup of the equipment. 

But no more! Scaffolding has moved down to the No. 2 position. Admittedly, there is still a long way to go to achieve one of the SAIA’s “Big Goals” from our 2006-2015 10-year plan, which is to have scaffolding out of the Top 10 list. But it is a step in the right direction. 

Furthermore, a review of the numbers shows a downward trend in the actual number of citations over the past three years: from 9,093 citations in 2009 to 8,371 in 2010 and down to 7,079 cases this year. 

This reduction of more than 20 percent over the past three years is probably more encouraging than moving down the Top 10 list, especially because the policy from the Department of Labor has been one of enforcement over that same period. 

However, we have to continue to promote the message of safe workplace practices and training. There is no time for complacency. OSHA said that 260 workers died in 2010 from falls, which continue to be the leading cause of death in construction, and fall-protection citations has replaced scaffolding at the top of the list. 

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics also announced recently that there were nearly 3.1 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2010, which was down from 3.3 million reported in 2009. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement: 

“We are encouraged by the reported decline in incidence rates for workplace injuries and illnesses, which is reflective of the joint effort of government, business, unions and other organizations. Nevertheless, 3.1 million injuries and illnesses in the workplace is too high. Serious injuries and illnesses can knock a working family out of the middle class. Workers should not have to sacrifice their health and safety to earn a paycheck.

“As our economy continues to rebound and grow, we must ensure that safety and health are a part of that growth. Let’s all remember that no job is a good job unless it is also a safe job.” 

So, as we approach the holiday season, please be more diligent at work. Encourage your fellow workers to organize and participate in workplace safety meetings, to take part in all the training programs that are offered and, if you want to find out more about training, contact the SAIA. 

Yes, losing the No. 1 spot is not a bad thing; rather it is a positive first step to meeting one of our Big Goals. But the SAIA will continue to get the word out by offering more programs, more manuals of safe practices and more training, so that one day in the near future, we can proudly proclaim, “No longer in the Top 10.” 

Enjoy the holidays and be safe. 

Cheers!

Steve Smith

About the Author 

Steve Smith is President of Edge Scaffolding and can be reached at srs@edgeintl.com