OSH ACT AND OSHA STANDARDS

Workplace Inspections - Authority to Inspect

Inspections are conducted without advance notice. There are, however, special circumstances under which OSHA may indeed give notice to the employer, but even then, such a notice will be less than 24 hours.

These special circumstances include:

Imminent danger situations which require correction as soon as possible

Inspections that must take place after regular business hours, or that require special preparation

Cases where notice is required to ensure that the employer and employee representative or other personnel will be present

Situations in which the OSHA area director determines that advance notice would produce a more thorough or effective inspection.

Employers receiving advance notice of an inspection must inform their employees' representative or arrange for OSHA to do so.

34 of 67