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.