1.2 Inspections

OSHA may inspect workplaces to enforce its standards. Nearly all inspections are made without advance notice. OSHA sets priorities in this order:

1. Imminent danger. Any condition where there is reasonable certainty that a danger exists that can be expected to cause death or serious physical harm immediately, or before it could be removed through normal enforcement. These come first.
2. Fatalities and catastrophes. Deaths and serious events such as the hospitalisation of several workers.
3. Employee complaints. A worker may ask for an inspection when they believe that they are in imminent danger or that a violation threatens physical harm.
4. Programmed high hazard inspections. Programs aimed at high hazard industries, occupations or health hazards.
5. Follow up inspections. A workplace cited for serious violations may be inspected again to check that hazards were corrected.

Citations

An employer that is cited must post the citation at or near the place of each violation, for three working days or until the violation is corrected, whichever is longer. If the employer agrees, it corrects the violation and pays any penalty. If it does not agree, it has 15 working days to contest the citation, the penalty or the dates for correction in writing.

1.3 Recordkeeping

Employers with more than ten employees must keep records of work related injuries and illnesses, except in industries that are partly exempt. Records are kept by calendar year. A summary of the previous year's records must be posted from 1 February to 30 April, and records are kept for five years and made available to OSHA, NIOSH and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Part 8 of this book covers recordkeeping in detail.

A study aid, not published or endorsed by IOSH or OSHA. Laws and limits differ between countries.