How OSHA Prioritizes the Worksites it Inspects

keyboard

If you are an employer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) may inspect your worksites at any time for potential safety violations. In many cases, however, inspections will fall into one of several types. The reason: OSHA enforces safety regulations at more than seven million workplaces around the nation. Because of the size of the operation, OSHA must prioritize which worksites it inspects.

The agency says it focuses on these six reasons for an inspection. They are listed in order of importance.

  1. Imminent danger. These are hazards that could cause death or serious harm. OSHA focuses first on these inspections and often will ask employers to make changes immediately.
  2. Workplace catastrophe: If an employee dies or three or more employees are hospitalized, employers are required to notify OSHA within eight hours.
  3. Worker complaints: Employees may report hazards or violations of OSHA regulations.
  4. Referrals from other agencies, organizations and the media. OSHA considers these reports when deciding whether to inspect a worksite.
  5. Follow-up inspections: In some circumstances, OSHA returns to a previously inspected worksite to check for abatement of violations.
  6. Planned investigations: OSHA also focuses on high-hazard industries and workplaces that have high injury and illness rates.

These are not the only situations in which OSHA conducts inspections. If you are an employer who is covered by OSHA - and most employers are - the agency may conduct an inspection for any number of reasons. As soon as an OSHA officer appears at your worksite, you or a manager should contact an attorney with experience in OSHA matters. You can better protect your business by having legal advice from the start of an OSHA inspection.

Categories: 
Share on LinkedIn
Related Posts
  • Complying with OSHA’s Evolving Hazard Communication Standard: 2022 Update Read More
  • Texas Employers: Know Your Commercial General Insurance Exclusions – Before an Accident Read More
  • How to Contest an OSHA Citation – Be Aware of Deadlines, or Forfeit Your Right to Contest Read More
/

We Are On Your Side

Contact Us To Schedule Your Consultation

  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please enter a message.