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WHEN OSHA COMES KNOCKING

When Do They Come? OSHA will always come inspect after a death or a near death incident. They will likely come for an inspection or contact you after a near miss or an employee complaint. Of course, they could also come for a “spot check”. What to KnowWhen OSHA Arrives • OSHA has the right to inspect your facility. If you refuse them access, they will leave and get a warrant, if they don’t already have one. Sending an inspector away could give you additional time to gather information and prepare. However, it also gives themmore time to investigate and prepare, and therefore it is not recommended to deny access to your facility to an OSHA inspector, unless it is strictly necessary. • You should review/check the warrant to find out why they are there. • Ask for the inspector’s credentials and record their name, title, and contact information. • Hold a conference at the beginning of the inspection. Take the inspector into an area away from the service center, preferably a conference room. Ask why they are there, what has prompted the inspection, and what information they are hoping to gather. • Give them any records and documents they request and anything that you believe they should review. During the inspection, if the inspector needs to take samples, tell them you need to take split samples. Take notes throughout the inspection and be as detailed as possible. • Take them, by the most direct route, to any area they are there to inspect. • However, do not volunteer any information.While with the inspector, make sure you are only answering questions that are asked of you. There is no need to volunteer additional information that the inspector isn’t asking. This could result in revealing a potential violation that the inspector otherwise wouldn’t have discovered. • If they request an interview with anyone, provide them with a private space for the interview. Do not ask them why they need to interview that person. • Do not argue with the inspector. Appearing defensive or argumentative will only cause the inspector to be more suspicious and scrupulous during their visit. Instead, remain polite and accommodating, while also standing firm if you feel like your rights are being breeched. • Hold a conference at the end of the inspection. Ask the inspector if they saw what they came to see and whether they saw any concerns or problems. Write down all information; if there is an issue, ask them what next steps you should take. • If the inspection results in a violation, you can ask for a conference to discuss it to determine its validity, and ways you can solve the issue.

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119 2020 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY & SERVICES GUIDE