OSHA's Top 10 violations for 2006
OSHA's top 10 most violated standards for fiscal year 2006 follow. The list and the number of violations are accurate as of October 13, 2006--the agency is still finalizing citation totals for the year.
- Scaffolding--General Requirements (1926.451) with 7,895 violations
- Duty to Have Fall Protection (1926.501) with 5,746 violations
- Hazard Communication (1910.1200) with 5,586 violations
- Respiratory Protection (1910.134) with 3,410 violations
- Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) with 3,068 violations
- Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178) with 2,582 violations
- Electrical--Wiring Methods, Components, and Equipment for General Use (1910.305) with 2,396 violations
- Machine Guarding--General Requirements (1910.212) with 2,296 violations
- Ladders (1926.1053) with 2,115 violations
- Electrical--General Requirements (1910.303) with 1,791 violations
STATE IMPLEMENTS DRIVER DISQUALIFICATION PROGRAM
All States can now disqualify a commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder for certain offenses committed in any type of vehicle (commercial motor vehicle (CMV) or non-CMV) at any time. Under the provisions of §383.51 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), a state must suspend, revoke, or cancel a driver’s CDL-related driving privleges, if he/she is convicted (including forfeiture of bond or collateral) of a major offense or two or more serious offenses.
Major offenses include being under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, leaving the scene of an accident, or using a vehicle to commit a felony. (See §383.51(b) for a complete list of major offenses.) The disqualification period for the first conviction is one year, provided the vehicle the driver is operating is not transporting hazardous materials. If the driver is transporting hazardous materials, the disqualification period is three years. The disqualification period for a second conviction is life.
Serious offenses include excessive speeding, reckless driving, improper or erratic traffic lane changes, or following the vehicle ahead too closely. (See §383.51(c) for a complete list of serious offenses.) Note: A driver convicted of two or more serious traffic violations while operating a non-CMV is disqualified only if the conviction results in the revocation, cancellation, or suspension of the driver's license or driving privileges.
A driver convicted of two serious traffic violations in separate incidents during any three year period is disqualified for 60 days. A driver convicted of three serious traffic violations in separate incidents during any three year period is disqualified for 120 days.
FEDERAL & STATE TRUCKING REGULATIONS
Are you applying for a Department of Transportation (DOT) number! Could you use compliance assistance or do you have a regulatory question ?
Below are some helpful web sites:
www.fmcsa.dot.gov (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
This comprehensive web site deals with every aspect of commercial motor carriers including the new Hours of Service and Falling and Shifting Cargo regulations. (also known as Cargo Securement)
Most agencies at the Federal level have gone to “plain language” formats to make the regulations easier to read and understand.
Another helpful resource is: www.safersys.org (Safety and Fitness Electronic Records System)
The SAFER System is a component of a transportation system designed to increase roadway safety and overall productivity of commercial truck drivers.
Carrier safety records, previously available via telephone requests, are now provided over the Internet – free of charge.
If your trucks and drivers are operating solely within the State where your business is located in (intrastate), then chances are the questions or concerns you may have can be addressed by your State’s Department of Transportation by visiting the following website:
www.fhwa.dot.gov/webstate.htm and click on “Find Your State Transportation Department”. When you click on the desired State, you will leave the Federal Highway Administration’s website and be taken to the State site.
Hiring A New Driver?
To improve our nation’s highways and to help employers make more sound hiring decisions when it comes to drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is changing the minimum driver safety performance history data that employers are required to seek from applicants under consideration for employment as a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver. Under the new 2004 regulation, prospective employers are required to request the following information from the applicant’s previous or current employer(s):
Former or current employer(s) must provide the above information within 30 days of the request for the previous three years.
• General driver ID,
• Employment verification information,
• Information on all accidents involving the applicant,
• Violation of any Department of Transportation alcohol or drug regulations, and
• Attendance of substance abuse rehabilitation programs
For more information, visit: www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/final/SafetyPerform_3-30-04.pdf
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