Facilities Check List
Practical, step-by-step guides for the busy FM
October 2001
Reasons For an OSHA Inspection
What does it take for an OSHA compliance officer to show up on your company’s doorstep? The two main reasons are: 1) a fatality or catastrophe or 2) a complaint issued by an employee. We’ll look at each circumstance in more detail.
Fatality or catastrophe: OSHA requires that a work incident resulting in any fatality and/or three or more hospitalizations be reported directly and verbally to the agency within eight hours. In addition, if the fatality or in-patient hospitalizations do not occur at the time of the incident but follow within 30 days after the incident, OSHA still requires notification, and it must be made within eight hours after the employer first learns of the incident’s associated fatality or hospitalizations.
Employee complaint: When OSHA receives a complaint, it will determine whether to immediately inspect the alleged hazards. If an investigation is appropriate, the agency will telephone the employer, describe the alleged hazards, and follow up with a fax or letter. The employer can respond in kind, identifying any problems found and noting corrective actions taken or planned. An adequate response generally negates the need for an inspection.
An on-site investigation will be conducted if an employee complaint meets one of the following criteria:
It is in writing and signed by a current employee, and there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of a safety or health standard or danger exists under the requirements or OSHA.
It alleges that physical harm such as disabling injuries or illness have occurred and that it is believed that the hazard still exists.
It is based on an allegation of an imminent danger situation.
It identifies a hazard or establishment covered by a local or national emphasis program, such as exposed asbestos.
The employer fails to provide adequate response to a compliant, or there is evidence that the employer’s response is false or does not adequately address the hazard.
The firm has a history of egregious, willful, or failure-to-abate citations within the subject area and within the last three years.
Upon the request of the complainant, the agency will withhold from the owner or manager the name of the person filing the complaint.
This installment of FM Check List is adapted from BOMI Institute’s Environmental Health and Safety Issues (www.bomi-edu.org/19092.html), course in BOMI Institute’s Real Property Administrator (RPA), Facilities Management Administrator (FMA) and Systems Maintenance Administrator (SMA) designation programs.
