5 Questions OSHA Inspectors Ask Workers

OSHA’s video, The OSHA Inspection Process, mentions that compliance officers often speak privately with individual employees during the inspection. The video lists 5 questions OSHA inspectors ask employees:

• How long have you worked for the company?
• Have you or anyone else been injured or had close calls on the job?
• Does the employer provide personal protective equipment?
• How often is training provided? What is training composed of?
• Is there anything that you would change to make working conditions safer?

When are these questions asked?

Opening conference:

Compliance officers explain why they’re inspecting the workplace, the scope of the inspection, walkaround procedures, worker representation, and the need for worker interviews. Officers will also ask for a representative of the site to accompany them throughout the inspection.

The walkaround:

This is when officers inspect the site and privately ask workers the questions listed above.

Closing conference:

Officers get together with the employer and designated representative(s) to discuss the findings, possible corrective procedures, reasonable timelines for correction, potential courses of action for the employer following an inspection, and available consultation services.

After the inspection:

Officers will put together a report that describes what was discussed or apparent violations. The info is sent to the Area Director who determines whether a citation will be issued. If so, the employer has 15 days to request an informal conference with the Area Director, discuss issues and address the penalties, or contest the citation.

OSHA's video lists six reasons OSHA might inspect a workplace, including imminent danger situations, severe injury or illness incidents, worker complaints, referrals from other agencies or organizations, and OSHA’s own Site-Specific Targeting (SST) program.

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Tags: osha, OSHA compliance, OSHA inspection, workplace safety