Navigating OSHA Inspections: What to Do If OSHA Comes to Your Site

Navigating OSHA inspections can feel overwhelming, especially if you're caught off guard. Understanding the right steps to take can make a significant difference in the outcome.

Here's what you need to know:

What do you do if OSHA comes onto your worksite?

Of course, the first thing to do is to cooperate. Not all OSHA inspections result in any further action.

However, if further action is taken, it will be in the form of a citation. The citation will detail the specific safety codes that were allegedly violated.

Once you've been cited – you need to act fast. You have 15 days to file a “notice of contest” which is what allows you to contest the citations in court (eventually). While that deadline is approaching, you can also request an “informal conference” with the local OSHA office. The informal conference can often result in a settlement right then and there.

The trick is that once you file the notice of contest, you will not have the opportunity to work out a settlement with the local office anymore. That is because the formal dispute process is handled out of a different location than the informal one.

So – often the plan is to have the informal conference immediately, and to file the notice of contest only if the informal conference does not result in the resolution you are looking for. However, it's important to remember that everything needs to occur within 15 days of the date of the citation.

Have questions about OSHA compliance or citations? Contact our team to ensure your business is protected and your response is timely, strategic, and informed.