Cal/OSHA inspections periodically make unannounced visits to ensure California workplaces are safe and healthy. During an inspection, it’s important to know what to expect and how to respond.

Cal/OSHA will conduct site inspections in cases of imminent danger or industrial accidents. A fatal in jury to one or more employees; a serious injury or illness; a serious exposure; or the inpatient hospitalization, regardless of duration, of three or more employees (a catastrophe) will also trigger an accident investigation and must be reported to Cal/OSHA within 8 hours.

Inspectors often visit high-hazard work sites and industries with loss rates at or above Bureau of Labor Statistics averages. And, they will visit a worksite in response to an employee complaint of an imminent danger.

All employees should know which management staff is to be notified when an inspector arrives. The Cal/OSHA inspector will then present proper identification an in a conference with management representative explain the reason for the visit and request permission to conduct a site inspection.

The inspectors can walk around the entire facility or a targeted work area; they can interview employees in private and document hazards with photos and measurements. The management representative should accompany the inspector at all times, though private employee interviews can be arranged in controlled access conference rooms. The inspection focus should be limited to only areas listed in the opening conference. If the inspector takes measurements and readings, the representative should conduct the same measurements and readings simultaneously, keeping all notes, photos, and records from the visit.

After the walkthrough, the inspector should conduct a closing conference ton provide inspections results, next steps, and timelines. Inspectors may request protocols, work procedures, or other documents. The Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) may be required immediately, since it is required to be readily accessible to employees. Conduct follow-up investigations, corrective actions, and gather requested documents and provide them to the inspector by the deadline. Missed deadlines can result in further site inspections or citations.

Start planning now to present a competent, organized, and compliant response to a Cal/OSHA inspection. Designate and train staff to respond to Cal/OSHA inspectors. Maintain your safety programs and employee training procedures at appropriate levels. Keep safety records organized and on site and ensure key staff know how to access them.

Source: Safety News –State Compensation Fund