Safety Inspections

Worker

You have the right to a safe and healthy workplace.

Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe and healthy workplace. Your employer must provide a workplace free of known health and safety hazards. If you have concerns about your workplace health and safety, you have the right to speak up about them without fear of retaliation.

You have the right to:

• request an inspection from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and speak to the inspector.

You also have the right to:

• be trained in a language you understand.

• work on machines that are safe.

• be provided required personal protective equipment or PPE, such as gloves or a harness and lifeline for falls. See OSHA’s Employer Payment Guidelines for what type of equipment is covered.

• be protected from toxic chemicals.

• report a work-related injury or illness, and get copies of your medical records.

• see copies of the workplace injury and illness log.

• review records of work-related injuries and illnesses.

• get copies of test results done to find hazards in the workplace.

• You have a right to a safe and healthy workplace regardless of your immigration status.

Learn about filing a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Worker resources

• elaws Safety and Health Advisors

• OSHA Fact Sheet: OSHA Inspections

• OSHA Resources on Worker Rights

• OSHA Worker Rights Booklet

• OSHA Video on Workers’ Safety and Health Rights on the Job

• Video de OSHA sobre Derechos de los Trabajadores

• Video de OSHA sobre Ningún Pago le Vale la Vida

Employer

You have the responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace.

Normally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducts inspections without advance notice. You have the right to require compliance officers to obtain an inspection warrant before entering the worksite, however.

OSHA focuses on the most hazardous workplaces by order of priority. For lower-priority hazards, an OSHA representative may contact you to describe safety and health concerns, following up with details. In such an instance, you must respond in writing within five working days, identifying any problems found and noting corrective actions taken or planned. If your response is adequate and the complainant satisfied, OSHA generally will not conduct an inspection.

If OSHA does conduct an inspection, you may select a representative, who has the right to accompany the Compliance Safety and Health Officer during the inspection. During the inspection, the Compliance Safety and Health Officer may point out apparent violations that can be corrected immediately. While the law requires that these hazards must still be cited with a proposed time period for correction and any associated penalties, prompt action is a sign of good faith on your part.

Following an inspection, you have both rights and responsibilities that are important to understand.

Learn about OSHA

Employer resources

• OSHA Penalties

• Employer Rights and Responsibilities Following an OSHA Inspection

• Top 10 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Standards

• OSHA Enforcement

• OSHA Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs

• OSHA Help for Employers

• OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program

Questions? We’re here to help.

We are committed to helping you. Many questions may be answered by using the following elaws (Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses) Advisors:

• OSHA Hazard Awareness Advisor

• OSHA Recordkeeping Advisor

For additional assistance, please contact:

• OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742)

• Your area OSHA office

OSHA’s area offices provide advice, education, and assistance to businesses and organizations who request help with occupational safety and health issues. In addition, OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential safety and occupational health advice. No citations or penalties are issued; the employer’s only obligation is to correct identified hazards.

Please note that the mining industry has its own set of safety and health standards, rules, and regulations, which are overseen by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Mining industry employers should contact MSHA at 202-693-9400 or AskMSHA@dol.gov.

All discussions between OSHA and employees or their representatives are free and confidential. Safety and health complaints from employees or their representatives are taken seriously by OSHA, and OSHA will keep their information confidential. Learn about filing a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Additional resources

• elaws Safety and Health Advisors

• OSHA Fact Sheet: OSHA Inspections

Need more information?

The elaws (Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses) Advisors are a set of online tools developed by the U.S. Department of Labor to help employees and employers understand their rights and responsibilities under federal employment laws.