The Top 5 OSHA Violations in Small Manufacturing — And What They Actually Cost

By Vince Lawrence — GigLine Safety & Compliance

1. Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200)

The #1 citation in general industry. Missing written program, unlabeled containers, no SDS binder, or undocumented training. Penalty: up to $16,550 per violation.

2. Lockout/Tagout (29 CFR 1910.147)

Missing written procedures, no annual audit, untrained authorized employees. One of the most dangerous violations — failure to control energy causes approximately 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries per year.

3. Machine Guarding (29 CFR 1910.212)

Missing or inadequate point-of-operation guards on machines like presses, mills, lathes, and saws.

4. Powered Industrial Trucks (29 CFR 1910.178)

Operators not certified, no daily pre-shift inspections, pedestrian separation missing.

5. Walking-Working Surfaces (29 CFR 1910.22)

Blocked aisles, unprotected edges, damaged flooring, poor housekeeping in work areas.

Not sure if these violations exist in your shop? A GigLine Safety Walkthrough will flag them with photos and a prioritized fix list.