Ever wondered how OSHAdecides when to invest its limited enforcement resources on an inspection, whysome places seem to be left alone for years, others never see one, and yet theguy down the road has been visited four times in three years?
OSHA gets ready to inspectyou if a complaint:
Is in writing and signedby a current employee or employee representative, and there are reasonablegrounds to believe that a violation of a safety or health standard or dangerexists under the requirements of OSHA.
Alleges that physical harm such as disabling injuries or illnesses have occurred, and indicates thehazard still exists.
States that a situation iscreating imminent danger.
Identifies a hazard orestablishment covered by a local or national emphasis program.
Does not get an adequateor truthful response from an employer, according to the evidence available.
Involves a facility thathas a history of egregious, willful or failure-to-abate citations within thearea and within the last three years.
Causes an OSHA 11(c)discrimination investigator to request an inspection because an employeecharges unfair treatment after a complaint or because the employee won’t do animminently dangerous job or task.
Coincides with aninspection scheduled or already begun at an establishment and would normally beinvestigated anyway.
Courtesy of Zurich NorthAmerica https://secure.zurichna.com/zdu