How to Prepare for an OSHA Inspection
An OSHA investigation is conducted by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration to ensure that your company provides healthful working conditions for all employees. The inspection includes checking for hazardous conditions, checking the level of air contaminants and verifying the existence and condition of safety equipment. OSHA examinations can be done without warning, so it's important that you are prepared in the event that you receive notice of an imminent OSHA visit.
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Things You'll Need
- Fire extinguishers
- First-aid kits
- Detailed records
- Updated employee manuals
Instructions
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Prepare for an OSHA Inspection
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1
Determine how likely you are to be subject to an examination. If you work in an industry that has high risks, such as construction or asbestos removal, you are more likely to receive an OSHA investigation than if you work in office supplies. The more risky the conditions at the workplace, the greater the chances you will be the object of an investigation.
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2
Examine your history so you can prepare. If serious accidents or injuries have occurred in your workplace several times over the past couple of years, you are a good candidate for an inspection. Even if the accidents are unrelated and not a direct result of the work environment, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration may decide you need to be inspected for risk factors anyway.
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3
Maintain clear records about anything in the workplace that carries inherent risks, especially if there is a history of accidents with that particular object or situation. If you have an employee manual, it should be kept updated with the most recent laws and regulations regarding health and safety. If work is performed in a common area, posters and signs announcing risks should be clearly posted for everyone's protection.
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Keep the working area clean, free of dangerous surfaces or items that can cause injury, and make it easy to access in case of an emergency or accident. Make sure emergency exits are clearly marked and first-aid kits and fire extinguishers are readily available. While these may seem like minor details, they are in fact the areas where most companies fail to comply with OSHA regulations.
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Be aware that most inspections are not announced at all. The best way to prepare for an OSHA inspection is to keep the workplace in optimal condition at all times. If you want to know how likely you are to receive a surprise inspection, check the website of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration to review statistics by industry (see Resources below).
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Tips & Warnings
Keep detailed records of accidents that have occurred in the workplace, even if they don't seem related to safety issues.
