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Don’t be Unprepared for
an OSHA Inspection
YOUR COMPANY SHOULD ALWAYS BE PREPARED
FOR A SURPRISE VISIT FROM OSHA.
DAVID A. WARD SR. AND JACK RUBINGER
For the thousands of companies that have been
through an OSHA inspection since OSHA’s inception
in 1971, the experience has ranged from
scary and nerve wracking to polite and professional.
Each inspector typically has pet peeves based on past
experience. Some are sticklers for electrical issues.
Some are hyper aware of power tools.
You actually can learn a lot about cooperation and
collaboration through the experience. Having said
that, there’s always a looming fear of discovery and
paranoia surrounding an impending OSHA inspection
– much like the fear and nervousness we face when
we’re dealing with an IRS audit.
In both cases, your company should always be prepared
for a surprise visit.
Given the fact that OSHA fines increased in some cases
by about 80 percent in August – the first penalty
increase since 1990 – that fear and paranoia is liable
to escalate, but there are preparatory steps that can
be taken to minimize the fear of discovery. Having the
right attitude, understanding and expectation about
an OSHA inspection is important.
When supervisors demonstrate their commitment to
safety by holding employees accountable for their actions,
it makes safety a priority and not just another
program. This perception of how safety is managed
creates a positive attitude and sense of genuine concern
– especially among new employees.
Providing employees with a variety of activities like
tool box talks, involvement in accident investigations,
participation in safety committees, engagement in
weekly and/or monthly inspections and assuming
roles of responsibility, changes the focus from “them”
to “us.” OSHA inspectors notice that attitude and employee
involvement.
grams like lockout/tagout, GHS, machine guarding
and fall protection.
Preparation could result in a reduced number of potential
violations that could add up to hundreds of
thousands of dollars.
While we can’t delay or prevent OSHA from increasing
their penalties and the surrounding fears these penalties
create, we can all do a better job of understanding
our roles, getting up to speed on current safety programs
like lockout/tagout, and putting ourselves in
the shoes of the OSHA inspector.
David A. Ward Sr.
is a former federal
investigator for OSHA
and is president of
Safety By Design
Consultant Services,
which runs a program
called “Preparation O”
specifically to address
concerns about
OSHA and prepare
companies for the
unexpected OSHA visit.
Jack Rubinger is a
frequent contributor
to industrial,
workplace safety
and manufacturing
publications.
PREPARATION IS KEY
Communications in regards to safety should be delivered
directly from the CEO to every staff member and
not be diluted by other department heads who do not
manage this critical component of every company –
big or small.
We’ve discovered that most companies really are unaware
of their roles, administrative responsibilities
and the significant deficiencies in their safety pro-
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