Make Sure You’re Ready if OSHA Wants to Inspect
Every day, safety managers across the country work hard to keep their workplaces in compliance with state, local, and federal requirements—and keep workers healthy and safe.
For those organizations covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employees have the right to request an OSHA inspection. OSHA may also initiate an inspection, for a variety of reasons, and vary rarely offers advance notice.
This is why it’s extremely important to have your processes and procedures mapped out before-hand. In the event you receive a surprise inspection, make sure you know:
Who to direct the OSHA inspector, or CSHO (compliance safety and health officer) to. This could be a manager or other supervisor, or in some cases perhaps a business owner. Whomever you choose, it should be someone who is regularly on-site. It is also a good idea to have a backup representative.
The standard process for an inspection. OSHA inspections consist of three primary parts
The opening conference, where the CSHO will state the reasons for the inspection
The “walkaround.” During this portion of the inspection, the CSHO will check the potential health and safety hazards described in the complaint. A representative from management can and should be present.
The closing conference, where the CSHO will discuss remediation if necessary as well as any subsequent steps for the business to take.
You can find a detailed explanation of this process on OSHA’s website: The OSHA Inspection: A Step-by-Step Guide (opens to a PDF).
Boyer Safety also offers a virtual audit that simulations the walkaround section of an OSHA inspection.