The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) released its Top 10 Citation List highlighting the most common employee injury prevention violations in fiscal year 2011. Fall protection citations earned the not-so-coveted top spot on the list as 7,139 occurred in FY11. Scaffolding, hazard communication and respiratory protection citations fell behind, following fall protection citations on the list.

OSHA can enforce strict fines on companies failing to comply to its guidelines. The government agency fined a Maine roofing company a total of $243,360 in June 2011 after an inspection revealed a lack of fall protection among other hazards. Roofing company owner Stephen Lessard disputed the citations, claiming OSHA performed "selective enforcement." In addition, Lessard said OSHA could visit any work site and find safety violations.

Maintaining workplace injury prevention programs can help companies adhere to OSHA guidelines. Using web-based software that helps you pinpoint and analyze risk of injuries will allow you to take the first step toward creating a safe work environment and preventing injury-related costs as well.