How to Handle a Construction Inspection

An inspection of a construction site by a representative of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a fairly common occurrence, especially since safety and health issues can be highly visible to the public. If an OSHA inspector decides to visit your construction site, handle it correctly by being cooperative, attentive and responsive.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Complete records of all injuries and illnesses
• OSHA 300A form

1. Cooperate completely with the OSHA inspector, and answer all questions accurately. Try to avoid giving out too much information, as this may encourage the inspector to ask for more documentation, which may increase the chance of violations being discovered. Be frank, simple and to the point in order to handle the inspection properly.
2. Keep complete and accurate safety records for all activities on the construction site. For instance, any record of employee injuries or illnesses due to exposure to hazardous materials should be kept in a file in the construction trailer for easy access. An inspector will be looking specifically for the OSHA 300A list, which should be kept up to date at all times.
3. Find out whether the inspection is consultative or for enforcement. A consultative OSHA inspection is usually granted at the request of the contractor or landowner to ensure that the workplace is safe and relatively free from hazards. An enforcement inspection is usually the result of a specific complaint from either an employee or a casual observer, and is designed to uncover violations.
4. Determine whether the inspection is the result of a specific complaint, and find out what that complaint is. If an OSHA inspector is conducting an enforcement inspection, he will be looking for additional hazards that could support the complaint. Generally, the OSHA representative will be confined to inspecting conditions relating directly to the complaint, but the scope of the inspection can be expanded if the inspector observes additional hazards or violations.
5. Handle the construction inspection by listening to the OSHA representative's report during the closing conference, and by correcting any violations within the specified time frame. Remember that any violations left unattended by the next visit will result in serious fines.

Tips & Warnings

• When an OSHA inspector arrives at a construction site, ask for identification before the inspection starts. Once the inspector has correctly identified himself, it is his responsibility to hold an opening conference with the contractor or foreman to discuss the reason for the inspection.