December 24, 2003—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published two new fact sheets describing the OSHA inspection process and the Agency’s role in investigating occupational deaths.
“OSHA Inspections” (.pdf file) lists agency inspection priorities, explains phone/fax investigations, details the step-by-step process of an on-site inspection, describes how results are handled, and tells how employers can appeal OSHA citations and penalties. “OSHA’s Role When a Worker Dies on the Job” (.pdf file) provides details on employer responsibilities for reporting fatalities, describes specific agency steps in investigating workplace deaths, notes agency assistance available for families of deceased workers, and includes information on criminal referrals in cases where there is sufficient evidence of willful violations of OSHA standards that caused the death of a worker.
