Employer Responsibilities - Inspection Compliance

Regarding inspection compliance, OSHA states that it "carefully prioritizes all complaints it receives based on their severity. For lower-priority hazards, with permission of a complainant, OSHA may telephone the employer to describe safety and health concerns, following up with a fax providing details on alleged safety and health hazards. The employer must respond in writing within five working days, identifying any problems found and noting corrective actions taken or planned. If the response is adequate and the complainant is satisfied with the response, OSHA generally will not conduct an on-site inspection."

An employer should know the following details about inspections, should one occur:

1. Employers have the right to require compliance officers to obtain an inspection warrant before entering the work site.
2. Employers must provide OSHA compliance officers with the names of authorized employee representatives who may be asked to accompany the compliance officer during an inspection.
3. OSHA provides a detailed OSHA Inspections Fact Sheet that explains the complaint and site visit processes. The Fact Sheet also details the appeals process for employers who are unsatisfied with the results of the site visit.
4. OSHA also publishes a document titled Employer Rights and Responsibilities Following a Federal OSHA Inspection. Employers should consult this document to prepare themselves for the site visit.

To learn more about HAZWOPER visit our HAZWOPER 40 Hour Online Training web page.