OSHA
is authorized under the Act to conduct workplace inspections to enforce its standards.
Every establishment covered by the OSH Act is
subject to inspection by OSHA compliance safety and health officers, who are chosen for
their knowledge and experience in the occupational safety and health field. Compliance
officers are vigorously trained in OSHA standards and in recognition of safety and health
hazards. Similarly, states with their own occupational safety and health programs conduct
inspections using qualified compliance safety and health officers.
Under the OSH Act, "upon presenting appropriate credentials to the owner, operator or
agent in charge," an OSHA compliance officer is authorized to:
- "Enter without delay and at reasonable times" any factory, plant,
establishment, construction site or other areas, workplace, or environment where work is
performed by an employee of an employer
- "Inspect and investigate during regular working hours, and at other reasonable
times, and within reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner, any such place of
employment and all pertinent conditions, structures, machines, apparatus, devices,
equipment and materials therein, and to question privately any such employer, owner,
operator, agent or employee."
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