If you think that the only way that you can get cited by OSHA is through a formal inspection process that requires an inspector to appear at your front desk, talk you through the inspection, walk through, cite violations, and debrief, think again. It is as simple as an inspector seeing a violation while driving down the road.
(From OSHA News Release) Inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration were headed back to their Providence office on Jan. 22, 2015, after completing one site inspection when they saw a dangerous situation in clear view at another site in North Smithfield.
As simple as an inspector seeing a violation and starting an inspection. Although this employer egregiously violated rules (fall protection, repeat offender), we shared this with you to show you just how easy it is to have OSHA knocking on your door.
How do Companies Get Inspected?
Using the last 30 days of OSHA inspections (5/25/2015 to 6/25/2015), provided by the Department of Labor Enforcement Data Tool, we would like to share with you a few highlights:
Of the 5,005 new inspections,
- 41% of inspections were planned
- 26% of inspections resulted from a complaint
- 14% of inspections resulted from a referral
- 4% of inspections were follow-up inspections
- 5% were program related
- 4% were not program related
This totaled to roughly $400,000 in penalties to the 157 companies that were found in violation of the OSH Act.
100,000 Inspections Per Year: Are You Ready?
How long has it been since OSHA came to your door? What will your inspection look like? Are you prepared?
Too often for companies, the answers will be “too long, not sure, and maybe.”
If you want to ensure that you’re prepared for the day that OSHA knocks, or even if you just want to make sure that your employees are protected, the first step is to implement an effective, ongoing, and sustainable safety plan.
Through weekly tool box talks, training, and assistance, you can ensure that you are prepared for an inspection.
Optimum Safety Management can help you. With extensive experience in helping companies in construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and general industry to go beyond ‘just compliance,’ and learn the true engagement, profitability, and productivity that comes from a safety culture.
Through our 30-point gap analysis, we can identify your organization’s strengths and weaknesses, remove safety blind spots, and get your organization on the path to safety.
Contact us today, and learn more about preparing for an inspection by reading the following resources:
