OSHA officers can conduct unannounced inspections of workplaces to ensure compliance with health and safety standards. It is important for employers to always be prepared for inspections by designating representatives to greet the inspector, guide them, and provide any requested documents. When an inspection occurs, employers should verify the inspector's credentials, accompany them during walk-throughs, correct any identified violations immediately, and have a closing meeting to discuss findings. Fines for violations can be significant, ranging from $1,000-$500,000 depending on the type and severity of the violation. Employers should cooperate with inspectors and address any issues to avoid penalties.

1. OSHA officers can conduct an inspection
anytime, unannounced, so it is
important that you are always prepared.
How to Interact with an OSHA Inspector
The best way to avoid paying fines for violating
Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
standards is to always be prepared for an inspection.
Since an OSHA officer has no obligation to inform an
employer of the inspection ahead of time, the visit will
usually be unannounced. However, companies in
industries with particular hazards and companies who
have previously experienced a death in the workplace
are most vulnerable to an OSHA inspection. Planning for
an assessment before it happens will make it go more
smoothly, allow you to be in control and create a positive
impression on the OSHA officer, all of which will result in
fewer citations.
To be fully prepared, it is important to decide in advance
who will be designated to each of the following roles:
person to greet the inspector, guide for the inspector
during the walk-around of your facility and photographer
to document any alleged violations. Make sure you have
your OSHA log, if required to keep one, for the past five
years, organized and ready to produce for the inspector if
requested. Failure to produce these or any other
documents requested by the OSHA inspector could result
in hefty fines.
When an OSHA Inspector Arrives
• Greet the officer cordially, but ask to see the
individual’s credentials right away if he or she does
not immediately present them. It is not enough that
the officer produces credentials – be sure to verify
them by calling the nearest federal or state OSHA
office.
• Notify your designated inspection team of
OSHA’s arrival and gather them for an opening
conference with the compliance officer. You have
the right to know why the inspector is visiting your
facility, so if he or she does not specify, be sure to
politely ask. Also establish whether the inspection is
to cover the entire facility or only the areas involving
a particular complaint.
• Have the designated employer representative
lead the OSHA officer during the inspection. If
requested by employees, a selected representative
may also attend the walk-through on their behalf.
Ensure that the inspector minimizes any work
interruptions during the inspection.
• Show only the sections of the facility that the
officer came to inspect. Be aware that if an officer
sees a violation of OSHA standards in open view, he
can legally expand the inspection beyond the
previously established boundaries.
• Correct any apparent violations detected by the
officer immediately and on the spot. The officer will
record this and take your good faith actions into
account when assessing citations and fines.
Provided by The Murphy Insurance Group
This Risk Insights is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice.
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2. How to Interact with an OSHA Inspector
• Be courteous and professional, but only produce
documents or information when they are requested,
and respectfully insist that the inspector not wander
off alone.
• Note all of the inspector’s observations and take
photos of the alleged violations. Do not argue with
the officer on-site as to whether something is in
violation of OSHA standards.
• The compliance officer will conduct a closing
conference. At this point, he will give you a list of all
unsafe or unhealthy conditions found during the
inspection. The officer will tell you which violations
he will recommend as citations, and this is your
opportunity to discuss how much time you would
need to correct these hazardous conditions.
However, it is not appropriate to ask about fines or
penalties at this time, as only the OSHA area director
has the authority to assign penalties after receiving
the officer’s full report.
How are Fines Assessed?
Fines are assessed at five levels, and the dollar amounts
listed below are for one violation. For example, even
though a serious violation will cost your company
anywhere from $1 to $7,000, you could have five serious
violations, each one costing you $7,000 for a total of
$35,000.
• De Minimus Violation = No monetary fine
assessed, serves as a warning
• Other than serious violation = up to $7,000
• Serious violation = $1 - $7,000
• Repeated violation = up to $70,000
• Willful violation = Up to $500,000 + possible jail
time
If an employer is convicted of a willful violation of a
standard that has resulted in the death of an employee,
the offense is punishable by a court-imposed fine or by
imprisonment for up to six months, or both. A fine of up
to $250,000 for an individual, or $500,000 for a
corporation, may be imposed for a criminal conviction
Falsifying records, reports or applications can bring a fine
of $10,000 or up to six months in jail, or both.
Violations of posting requirements can bring a civil
penalty of up to $7,000.
Assaulting a compliance officer, or otherwise resisting,
opposing, intimidating or interfering with a compliance
officer while they are engaged in the performance of
their duties is a criminal offense, subject to a fine of not
more than $5,000 and imprisonment for not more than
three years.
The next step in the process will be accepting the
citation, paying the fine(s), and correcting the problem or
contesting the assessed citation and fines. Be sure to
research the differences in OSHA policies if your state has
its own OSHA-approved system. Contact The Murphy
Insurance Group at (608) 849-6873 for more information
on how you can keep your OSHA log organized, be
prepared for an inspection and avoid further
assessments.