A Guide to OSHA Violations

Occupational Safety and Health Administration Regulations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the U.S. Federal Regulatory Agency responsible for the oversight of workplace safety. OSHA not only produces workplace regulations, but they enforce them by routinely inspecting facilities to check for noncompliance or violations.

Because the central objective of OSHA is to keep people safe, facilities must be familiar with the regulations that apply to their operations. Ensuring that your facility complies with workplace regulations will not only help to prevent your business from being issued a citation but it will—ultimately—lead to a safe and healthy working environment.

Storage regulations are an integral part of OSHA’s oversight. To help you understand the OSHA storage regulations that apply to your operation, here is a breakdown of the regulations that apply to the storage of various items in the workplace and an outline of what you can do to meet OSHA compliance and protect your staff.

OSHA Storage Regulations and Violations

Safety Cans. Safety cans are used to store flammable liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, or oil. The first element of proper storage for flammable liquids is keeping the liquid in the appropriate container. OSHA standard 1910.106(a)(29) specifies that a safety can should be a container with a capacity of no more than 5 gallons and one that features a spring-closing lid and a spout cover designed to prevent ignition.

Type I and II safety cans from Justrite are color coded to ensure that every flammable liquid is stored in the proper corresponding container. OSHA requires safety cans to be marked with their contents to ensure liquids are not mixed. One of the most common OSHA citations related to flammable liquid storage is storing liquids in improper containers.

Based on 1910.106(e)(2)(ii), another common flammable liquid violation is storing liquids in containers that do not properly seal. This is a requirement designed to protect the contents of a container from ignition sources, spills, release of ignitable/toxic vapors.

Safety Cabinets. Because hazardous or flammable materials can be a source of fire or other accidents, it is essential to safely store these materials where they will not endanger personnel or facilities. For specific materials, here is a breakdown of the safety cabinets designed to comply with OSHA regulations.

• Flammables. Flammable liquid safety cabinets are designed to satisfy OSHA standard 1910.106 and the NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code. The cabinets feature self-closing or manual close doors and thick double-welded steel walls that offer maximum fire resistance.
• Paint. Paints with a flashpoint between 141- and 200-degrees Fahrenheit are classified as a Class IIIA or IIIB by the NFPA. Paint safety cabinets are designed to safely store paint in compliance with OSHA and NFPA requirements.
• Pesticides. For safely storing pesticides in the workplace, pesticide safety cabinets are designed to comply with OSHA and NFPA regulations.
• Cylinder storage. The most common violation pertaining to the storage of gas cylinders under OSHA standard 1910.253(b)(2) is failure to store cylinders in an appropriately ventilated and secured locker. Gas cylinder lockers from Justrite provide the proper ventilation and fall protection.

Secondary Containment. Part of the OSHA OSHA 1910.120 App C requirement for storing hazardous materials in the workplace involves keeping a spill containment program in place in the event that there is a leak or spill. Secondary containment items—such as berms or spill kits—can be incorporated into a facility’s spill plan to demonstrate that steps have been taken to mitigate spills involving hazardous materials.

Personal Protection Equipment. Personal protective equipment—or PPE—refers to items such as gloves or goggles that are worn by personnel to protect them from dangerous substances. OSHA standard 1910.132 requires the use of PPE to protect employees from being harmed by any hazardous material with which they work.

What to Do if You Receive an OSHA Violation

When a facility is cited for noncompliance, they are required to correct the condition that the OSHA inspector cited. OSHA outlines in detail the process for demonstrating compliance after a citation. The most important element is sending a letter of corrective action to the OSHA director in your area and setting up a time for reassessment.

How to Prevent OSHA Violation

The best way to prevent OSHA citations in your facility is to ensure that you use the proper Fire prevention equipment as required per OSHA. Whether you need a safety locker for gas cylinders, safety cans for flammable liquids, or protective equipment, Justrite manufactures a wide range of products specifically designed to comply with OSHA and NFPA regulatory requirements.

In addition to fire prevention equipment, the STUD-E survey from Justrite is intended to help facilities ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Through this initiative, facilities can apply for a complete walkthrough conducted by a Justrite safety expert who will assess your site’s compliance with safety standards in an effort to prevent citations or accidents in the workplace. 

Whatever your safety storage needs, we have the equipment you need to meet compliance and keep your personnel protected.