OSHA fines all those employers and companies that do not comply with its regulations and standards. Protecting your company’s finances and minimizing any legal liabilities should be your first priority. But how can you do this when OSHA tends to conduct surprise inspections every now and then? A good safety program, safety procedures and policies and even a safety manager will be able to minimize your potential for having safety violations.
Here are a few tips on how to handle a surprise inspection:
Start by first verifying the inspector’s credentials. Check for the name, title, phone number and business address and ask for any legitimate OSHA identification.
Once you know the inspector is legitimate, accompany him. Find out what the reason of the visit is before you start answering questions. Make sure that the managers in the company meet with the inspector and he should be accompanied by a Human Resources representative. Allow the inspector to walk around the company freely and at least one manager should be with him at any given time.
Assign someone to document the whole inspection process. Take photos, check for violations. If the reason for visit is serious, then contact the company’s lawyer. But remember to all the while be polite and cooperate with the inspector.
If there are any problem areas that you know of, limit the inspector’s access to those areas.
Never agree or argue with the inspector about any violations. Never give out any extra information.
Once the closing conference is done and the citation or penalty given out, review them with your legal counsel and safety managers and check whether your company should either comply or fight back.
Here are a few tips on how to handle a surprise inspection:
Start by first verifying the inspector’s credentials. Check for the name, title, phone number and business address and ask for any legitimate OSHA identification.
Once you know the inspector is legitimate, accompany him. Find out what the reason of the visit is before you start answering questions. Make sure that the managers in the company meet with the inspector and he should be accompanied by a Human Resources representative. Allow the inspector to walk around the company freely and at least one manager should be with him at any given time.
Assign someone to document the whole inspection process. Take photos, check for violations. If the reason for visit is serious, then contact the company’s lawyer. But remember to all the while be polite and cooperate with the inspector.
If there are any problem areas that you know of, limit the inspector’s access to those areas.
Never agree or argue with the inspector about any violations. Never give out any extra information.
Once the closing conference is done and the citation or penalty given out, review them with your legal counsel and safety managers and check whether your company should either comply or fight back.
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