Having an OSHA inspector show up unexpectedly can be one of the most stressful moments for any safety manager. But with the tools and resources in J. J. Keller® SAFETY MANAGEMENT SUITE, you can stay ahead by conducting your own audits and inspections – helping you catch and fix safety issues before they turn into expensive violations.
Stay Ready With Our Audits & Inspections Solution
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Pre-built Inspection Checklists
Evaluate your workplace’s safety compliance with comprehensive checklists designed for OSHA, EPA, and DOT inspections.
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Audits & Inspection Events
Schedule upcoming audit and inspection events, and receive notifications to keep your business on track.
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Centralized Task Management
Assign audit- and inspection-related tasks to anyone within your organization, across locations – even if they don’t have a SAFETY MANAGEMENT SUITE account.
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Customizable Reporting
Attach images, notes, links, and other pertinent information to your audits and inspections, and generate detailed reports.
Quickly and conveniently perform safety audits!
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Prepping for the Pre-Inspection Opening Conference
When OSHA inspects a facility, they don’t give advance notice. The compliance officer should hold an opening conference to explain the reason for and scope of the OSHA inspection. However, if the receptionist who greets the compliance officer doesn’t know who to notify, the compliance officer may start the inspection without your knowledge – this has happened to some employers. To avoid having an OSHA compliance officer conducting a safety inspection without an escort, make sure your receptionists know what to do when someone from OSHA shows up and presents credentials.
Ed Zalewski | Sr. Editor, EHS
AUDITS & INSPECTIONS FAQs
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is authorized to conduct workplace inspections to determine whether employers are complying with standards issued by the Agency for safe and healthful workplaces.
An audit is a systematic, objective tool to assess regulatory compliance in the workplace. An audit usually involves a survey of the workplace to:
- Identify what regulations apply to a company or facility.
- Determine whether environmental and workplace safety requirements, and corporate policies and procedures regarding compliance are being followed.
- Assess management systems currently in place to ensure compliance. An audit may also look at and evaluate the methods used to achieve compliance.
The short answer is “as often as they are needed.” The frequency of hazard assessments will depend on a variety of factors. In an office environment, inspections may not be needed frequently. However, in factory settings, inspections may need to be conducted regularly. The employer must determine how “regularly” to conduct inspections based on its evaluation of potential risks. In addition, hazard assessments are likely needed when new equipment or processes are introduced.
Technically, yes, the regulation at 29 CFR 1903.3 says that compliance officers “are authorized to enter without delay” in order to conduct inspections. An employer does have the right to require that the inspector obtain a warrant, but the inspector will be able to obtain one (because the regulation clearly authorizes the inspection). Although demanding a warrant is an employer’s right, the request may create the impression that the employer has something to hide, and the inspection may not go as smoothly once the compliance officer returns with the warrant.
You Need This Program!
"I just recently started with SFSWMA and was introduced to JJ Keller to keep our records. I love that it keeps all our information on the company, employees and trainings. You need this program, no ifs ands, or buts about it! It really does keep you compliant!"
Colleen Higgins-Vigil
Environmental Health, Safety and Training Administrator
Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency
