• by Signup Training

Failure to create a safe work environment in the US can attract serious fines. The OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) can levy penalties that go up to $1, 26,000 for heavy violations. It is best to avoid paying such fines at any cost. And the best way to do so would be by enforcing a culture of safety within the workplace.

Even workplaces that follow all the best-practices regarding safety can falter. Let’s look at some ways in which companies can survive an OSHA audit:

1. Listen to Employee Complaints & Concerns

Many times it is the employee who contacts OSHA. This could be because they feel proper regulations are not in place or hazardous material being used at the workplace. It is best to set up a department that can respond to employee concerns and make required changes before it goes to officials.

2. Be prepared for unplanned visits

The OSHA team visits facilities based on a number of triggers – some could be due to the reporting of fatalities or injuries at the workplace, otherwise it could be because the facility deals with hazardous material. Being prepared by conducting daily checks of all machinery, equipment and health of the employees will go a long way in being prepared for these surprise visits.

3. Comply with requests on visitation

The OSHA team follows a very open and transparent process of inspection. They may request access to documents, machineries and even interviews with employees. As company representatives, it is essential that we enable them to do a proper inspection. We can do this by giving them access to all the material they need and providing truthful and direct answers regarding all the queries.

4. Be prepared for a thorough inspection                             

The OSHA team starts the inspection with a walk around the facility, then gets into specific sites and sections. It is ideal if the company representatives is present with the OSHA team during these walkthroughs. Show them that the company is equally invested in keeping a check on the proper functioning of the facility. On completion of the inspection, the team will share a detailed report on their findings. In case they do find any violations, they are given a time of 6 months to issue penalties for violating standards.

5. Challenge the violations issued

The OSHA’s role is to rectify the hazardous conditions at the workplace. They are willing to work with the company to resolve the problem. However, if the problem cannot be resolved, then the company has 15 days’ time to submit a challenge regarding the violation with the OSHA commission.

The information provided in this article is just for general consumption. However, if you’d like a more detailed study on how to prepare for an OSHA visit, you can attend our webinar on preparing for and Surviving an OSHA Audit.