When an OSHA inspector visits the workplace, one should greet him by informing him that the company meets all OSHA health and safety standards. An OSHA poster containing the rights and responsibilities of the employees under OSHA should be displayed in a prominent place. It would be best if one can post the latest data on injuries and illnesses in the workplace. In this way, OSHA will be able to confirm that the company is indeed following OSHA guidelines. Another important item that must be presented to the inspector is the safety precautions within the workplace. The injury and illness prevention steps that the company undertakes are essential information that the OSHA inspector will appreciate. While walking through the inspection, one would like to show that all equipment and tools are properly maintained to guarantee the safety of the employee. If OSHA finds any violation by the company, one must be willing to correct such violation and to submit whatever documentation is needed to prove compliance.
If the inspector want to interview an employee, it is necessary that the employee is aware of his rights under OSHA. The employee may state that they have received training on hazards, ways to prevent harm, emergency preparedness, and OSHA standards that are applicable to their workplace. The employee must be able to state to the OSHA inspector that the company does not discriminate against employees who exercise their rights under the Act.
Meeting with an OSHA inspector in the workplace should be an experience that must be welcomed by any company representative. The inspector should not be viewed as someone who is out to pinpoint violations. The meeting should be viewed as an encounter which will be beneficial for both the company and its workers. The company must bear in mind that OSHA was created to set and enforce protective workplace safety and health standards and to provide information, training and assistance to workers and employers.
References
All About OSHA, LLC. (2013). What is OSHA? Retrieved from allaboutosha.com: http://www.allaboutosha.com/what-is-osha#E
United States Department of Labor. (n.d.). Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Retrieved from osha.gov: http://www.osha.gov/workers.html
