As one of South Florida’s leading staffing services firms, Future Force knows it’s OSHA’s job to make sure workplaces are safe. And not meeting their standards can result in hefty fines for employers. But you can make sure you’re in compliance if OSHA comes knocking on your door. Here’s how:
Prepare ahead of time.
Most inspections aren’t surprise ones; employers know ahead of time that an inspector is coming. If that’s the case, be prepared by doing the following:
- Find out the purpose of the inspection so you can better deal with any concerns.
- Also, assess your workplace, address any hazards that exist, and ensure the proper personal protective equipment requirements are being met. For instance, do your employees need gloves or hardhats? If they do, make sure everyone is using them.
- Make upper management and legal counsel aware of the impending inspection so there are no surprises.
- Ensure employees have been thoroughly trained on potential risks, how to stay safe on the job, and what policies, procedures, and other precautions your company has put in place to protect them.
- Know your rights. Employers don’t have to give OSHA training or safety documentation, for instance. So know what you are required – and aren’t required – to give the inspector before they show up on your door. That being said, it’s best to comply with the demands of the inspector. But ask them to put their request in writing so there’s a paper trail and no confusion as to what documents were requested.
Assign one person to deal with the inspector.
Have a key person communicating with the inspector ahead of time. Also, make sure that person is available to shadow the inspector and answer any questions during the inspection. The person you’ve assigned should also be able to step in if they inspector is disrupting the flow of work getting done.
Ask questions.
If a violation does exist, stay tightlipped. Don’t admit to anything to the inspector, but don’t try to argue either. Simply ask for specifics about it. There will be a conference with a compliance manager to review the inspector’s findings and you can bring up any issues or concerns at that time. But it’s important for you to first understand why a potential violation exists.
Accidents can happen on any job site. But by taking the proper steps and following the tips above to handle an OSHA inspection, you can ensure your employees are safe and healthy and that your company avoids hefty fines.
Do you need help hiring skilled, dependable workers who know how to stay safe on the job? If you do, call Future Force. As one of South Florida’s leading staffing services firms, we can handle the sourcing, interviewing, testing, and evaluating – all so you can make great hiring decisions. Contact Future Force today to learn more.