Solutions for Safety & Visual Communication

Favorites

Monday-Friday 5:30am-4:00pm PT

1-888-326-9244

Graphic Products
  • Resources
  • Support
  • Samples
  • Contact
  • Shop All Products
    CLOSE

    CATEGORIES
    • Printers
    • Printer Supply
    • Floor Marking
    • Pipe Marking
    • Signs & Labels
    • COVID-19 Solutions

    DuraLabel Kodiak

    DuraLabel Kodiak
    Multi-color, large format

    KODIAK SUPPLIES
    DuraLabel Toro

    DuraLabel Toro
    Portable, stand-alone

    TORO SUPPLIES
    DuraLabel Bronco

    DuraLabel Bronco
    Industrial, efficient

    BRONCO SUPPLIES
    DuraLabel Lobo

    DuraLabel Lobo
    Grab n' go labeler

    LOBO SUPPLIES
    DuraLabel Pro Series

    DuraLabel PRO 300
    Simple and reliable

    PRO 300 SUPPLIES

    LABELING SOFTWARE PRINTER ACCESSORIES PRINTER SUPPORT SHOP ALL PRINTERS
    SHOP BY APPLICATION
    Arc Flash GHS & HazCom Laboratory Pipe Labeling Wire Marking See All
    SUPPLY TYPE
    General Purpose High Visibility Low/High Temperatures Repositionable Tamper Resistant See All
    SHOP BY PRINTER
    Kodiak Supplies Toro Supplies Bronco Supplies Lobo Supplies DLP 300 Supplies See All

    RIBBONS PRINTER & SUPPLY BUNDLES SHOP ALL SUPPLIES
    FLOOR TAPES
    5S Aisle Glow in the Dark Reflective Anti-Slip See All
    FLOOR SIGNS
    BUNDLES
    SHAPES
    ACCESSORIES
    Applicators Stair Safety Floor Laminate
    Social Distancing Floor Signs

    SHOP ALL FLOOR TAPES
    STANDARD PIPE MARKERS
    Fire Quenching Flammable / Oxidizing Toxic or Corrosive Compressed Air Various Water See All
    AMMONIA
    Pipe Markers Component Markers See All
    SHOP BY STANDARD
    ANSI IIAR Pre-2007 ANSI
    flammable-pipe-markers

    ARROW BANDING TAPE ACCESSORIES VALVE TAGS SHOP ALL PIPE MARKERS
    SHOP BY SUBJECT
    Admittance Chemical Electrical Emergency PPE See All
    SHOP BY HEADER
    Caution Danger Notice Safety Warning See All
    COVID-19 Premade Signs

    SHOP ALL SAFETY SIGNS
    COVID-19 SOLUTIONS
    Safety Signs Printer Kits Awareness Posters A-Frame Signs Sneeze Guards
    SOCIAL DISTANCING
    Wall Signs & Labels Floor Signs Floor Tape Shop All
    COVID-19 BY INDUSTRY
    Grocery & Retail Medical & Healthcare Office Settings Restaurants & Food Service Food Manufacturing Construction
     
    Manufacturing Finance Transportation Education

    SHOP ALL COVID-19 SOLUTIONS
  • My Account
  • Quick Order
    Enter item SKU# and quantity
  • Cart()
Monday-Friday 5:30am-4:00pm PT 1-888-326-9244
Graphic Products
Menu Sign In
Products
Printers
Shop All Printers
Industrial Printers
Shop All Industrial Printers DuraLabel Toro DuraLabel Kodiak DuraLabel Bronco DuraLabel Lobo DuraLabel Pro 300
Bundles & Starter Kits
Shop All Bundles & Starter Kits
Labeling Software
Software DuraSuite Labeling Software LabelForge Labeling Software
Printer Supply
Shop All Printer Supply
Shop by Application
Shop All by Application Arc Flash GHS & Hazcom Laboratory Pipe Labeling Wire Marking
Shop by Supply Type
Shop All by Supply Type General Purpose High Visibility Low/High Temperatures Repositionable Tamper Resistant
Shop by Printer
Shop All by Printer DuraLabel Kodiak DuraLabel Toro DuraLabel Bronco DuraLabel Lobo DuraLabel Pro 300
Other
Shop All Other Ribbons Printer & Supply Bundle
Floor Marking
Shop All Floor Marking
Floor Tape
Shop All Floor Tape 5S Aisle Glow in the Dark Reflective Anti-Slip
Floor Signs
Shop All Floor Signs
Accessories
Shop All Accessories Stair Safety Floor Laminate
Other
Shop All Other Bundles Shapes
Safety Signs & Labels
Shop All Safety Signs
Shop by Subject
Shop All by Subject Admittance Chemical Electrical Emergency PPE
Shop by Header
Shop All by Header Caution Danger Notice Safety Warning
COVID-19 Solutions
Shop All COVID-19 Solutions
COVID-19 Solutions
Safety Signs Printer Kits Awareness Posters A-Frame Signs Sneeze Guards
Social Distancing
Wall Signs & Labels Floor Signs Floor Tape Shop All
COVID-19 by Industry
Grocery & Retail Medical & Healthcare Office Settings Restaurants & Food Service Food Manufacturing Construction Manufacturing Finance Transportation Education
Pipe Markers & Tags
Shop All Pipe Markers & Tags
Standard Pipe Markers
Shop All Standard Pipe Markers Fire Quenching Flammable/Oxidizing Toxic or Corrosive Compressed Air Various Water
Ammonia
Shop All Ammonia Pipe Markers Component Markers
Shop by Standard
Shop All by Standard ANSI IIAR Pre-2007 ANSI
Other
Shop All Other Arrow Banding Tape Accessories Valve Tags
Resources
Support
Free Samples
Contact Us
Cart
Sign In
  • Home
  • Safety Blog
  • OSHA's Severe Violator Program Shows Consistency

OSHA's Severe Violator Program Shows Consistency

BY CHRISTINE TORRES

Published July 12, 2018

Eight years ago, OSHA established its Severe Violator Enforcement Program to target employers who heavily disregard to workplace safety laws. Each year, the number of severe violators averages more than 50. Employers can take simple steps to achieve a compliant and safe workplace.

Soon after Oscar Rivera began his painting job in Southern California, he fell through a skylight more than 20 feet and hit the ground. Working without fall protection, Rivera died instantly and unnecessarily, according to his family. His sister, Mary, said his death could have been prevented.

“There has to be change. There have been too many families that watch a son, a brother, a father, or an uncle that left to work and never return home. These (severe) violators are not going by OSHA's guidelines,” Mary Rivera said. The company Rivera worked for was known for safety violations.

In 2010, OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) began as a way to concentrate on inspecting employers who have demonstrated indifference to safety through willful, repeated, or failure-to-abate violations. OSHA deems a severe violator as one that has multiple, high-emphasis hazard violations that include fall hazards, amputations (due to failure of lockout/tagout and machine guarding), combustible dust, crystalline silica, and excavation/trenching. Egregious recordkeeping also can be considered. When employers do not follow safety standards, regulations, and best practices, employees are at risk for injury or even death.

Severe Violations

After an employee died in a recent trench collapse, workplace safety regulators cited and fined $202,201 against an Ohio excavation contractor. The company has been placed on OSHA’s SVEP list. According to OSHA, the company had been in violation of several ongoing big issues, showing indifference to worker safety. The company did not use protective systems to prevent a trench cave-in and did not implement methods to remove accumulating water. In addition, ladders were not used properly, employees were working unsafely and without personal protection equipment, and there were no provisions for prompt medical attention in the event of injury, the agency reported.

“A trench can collapse in seconds, burying workers under the weight of thousands of pounds of soil,” said Ken Montgomery, OSHA Cincinnati area office director. “This tragedy was preventable and could have been avoided if the employer had installed required protective systems to prevent a trench cave-in.”

Is the list of severe violators growing? OSHA did not respond to requests for comments on the success of the SVEP. However, OSHA records show a consistent number of SVEP citations issued. The federal agency’s records are not yet final for 2017, but so far 58 SVEP citations are listed. In 2016, there were 77; a drop from 88 in 2015. There were 75 severe violators in 2014. Construction and manufacturing firms and small employers dominate the list of violators.

When an employer is found to have poor workplace behavior, OSHA will list the company’s name on its website along with a news release detailing the incident. Along with an enhanced settlement, the company will face a mandatory follow-up inspection and be on probation-like status on OSHA’s list for three years.

Lockout/tagout signs and labels on power box

Stay on Track for Compliance

OSHA has a map on its website that shows enforcement cases in each state. Among the most cited offenses and repeat offenses are lockout/tagout, medical/first aid stations, and signage. These safety violations are among the easiest solutions for employers to address. The key to proper safety compliance lies in having trusted information from industry experts and products that are guaranteed to last through years of inspections.

Making efforts to improve safety can benefit a business in a multitude of ways. Employers can stay on track for compliance and take the right actions for the company by establishing a solid safety and health program. These programs go beyond compliance. They help businesses prevent workplace injuries, which reduces worker costs and increases overall business operations. Create an effective safety management system that enables continuous improvement. Employers can evolve and adapt easily to change through simple, cost effective, and robust training and compliance solutions.

Related Resources

Top 10 OSHA Violations of 2018

Top 10 OSHA Violations of 2018 Analyzed

We break down the list and offer tips for fall protection, lockout/tagout (LO/TO), HazCom 2012, and other common violations.

Download
Near-Miss Reporting

Near-Miss Reporting

See why near-miss reporting is important and get tips for developing a near-miss system to improve safety facility-wide

View
JHA for Facility Safety & Managing Workplace Hazards

JHA for Facility Safety & Workplace Hazards

In 20 minutes, learn to identify and control workplace hazards using a job hazard analysis and visual communication

Watch
Get the latest deals straight to your inbox
Trusted by These Companies
Starbucks
GM
Du Pont
Amazon
Disney
3M
Pepsi
NASA
Chevron
AT&T
Toyota
Coca-Cola
UPS
Target
  • Graphic Products, Inc.
    9825 SW Sunshine Ct
    Beaverton, OR
    97005 USA

  • 1-888-326-9244 (U.S./Canada)
  • +1-503-644-5572 (International)
  • Products
  • Printers
  • Printer Supplies
  • Safety Signs
  • Safety Labels
  • Floor Marking
  • Pipe Markers & Tags
  • Catalog
  • Support
  • Shipping & Returns
  • Manage Account
  • Printer Support
  • Warranties
  • Resources
  • Resource Center
  • Guides
  • Articles
  • Video Library
  • Safety Blog
  • Infographics
  • Webinars
  • Company
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Become a Dealer
  • Find a Dealer
  • Press Room

Need Help?

Give us a call at 1-888-326-9244 and speak with an expert.

Customer Reviews
  • Copyright © 2021
  • All Rights Reserved
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Shipping and Returns
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Data