FREE OSHA Inspections Compliance Brief

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA is authorized to conduct workplace inspections. On average, Federal OSHA conducts about 35,000 inspections each year. States with approved OSHA state-plans conduct approximately 60,000 inspections. Typically, these inspections occur because of imminent danger situations, severe injuries and illnesses, employee complaints and referrals, and special programs targeted at specific segments of industry.

Given that OSHA rarely conducts an inspection that doesn’t result in at least one violation cited, employers must be prepared should an OSHA officer knock on the door.