How to Survive an OSHA Inspection-PCI - How to Survive an OSHA Inspection

PCI - How to Survive an OSHA Inspection - Slide Handouts

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This document provides tips on how to survive an OSHA inspection. The author emphasizes the importance of managing the inspection well in order to uphold the company's reputation and avoid significant fines and damage to the organizational culture. The document outlines the four typical reasons for an OSHA inspection: programmed inspection, programmed-related inspection, unprogrammed inspection, and unprogrammed-related inspection.<br /><br />The nine stages of an OSHA inspection are discussed, starting with the opening conference where OSHA informs the purpose and scope of the inspection. The document advises having a representative from the company present during the walk-around inspection to guide the inspection and limit it to the areas involved in the scope. During employee interviews, the author suggests answering questions factually, not volunteering information, and asking for clarification if needed.<br /><br />The document also covers the document request and review stage, where the inspector may request documents such as OSHA 300 logs, employee lists, and incident investigations. The author recommends asking for a formal document request and submitting the requested documents to a safety consultant or attorney. Industrial hygiene sampling and follow-up activities are discussed, including the importance of conducting IH testing ahead of time and requesting advanced notice for sampling.<br /><br />The closing conference is described as the last stage of the formal process, where the inspector submits findings and may advise recommended citations. The document emphasizes the importance of taking good notes during the closing conference and asking if citations should be expected. The options for citations and the response and citation abatement stage are highlighted, with suggestions such as accepting the citations and penalties, requesting an informal conference, negotiating the citations and penalties, or filing a Notice of Intent to Contest.<br /><br />The document concludes by recommending the selection of an OSHA response team, including internal responders, legal counsel, and safety consultants. It also mentions the positive potential of an OSHA inspection as a catalyst for change and provides a list of dos and don'ts for an OSHA inspection. The document offers additional resources for toolbox talks and contact information for Optimum Safety Management, a company that provides OSHA compliance assistance and safety culture development services.

Keywords

OSHA inspection

survive OSHA inspection

managing inspection

company reputation

avoid fines

organizational culture

typical reasons for OSHA inspection

nine stages of OSHA inspection

opening conference

walk-around inspection