Hula Consulting
Apr 10, 20222 min
How about a surprise inspection? An OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) inspector could swing by your businesses for a surprise inspection if a complaint has been made. Here’s what you should do before, during, and after an OSHA inspection to protect your business.
When #OSHA inspects an establishment, the Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO) looks for employee complaints, reports of serious injuries, or previous inspections that resulted in violations.
The CSHO will look over the property from outside before entering the premises. The CSHO will look for housekeeping issues, watch any workers at work, and look for other potential violations before entering the property to announce themselves.
WHAT'S FIRST?
One of the most important steps you can take should happen well before an OSHA inspector arrives. Your employee handbook with various workplace safety policies in place should be reviewed and updated. New legal requirements are often implemented, therefore a regular review of your policies with an expert in tea businesses like Hula Consulting can help your business in case an OSHA inspector ever stops by for a visit.
TAG ALONG
Once an inspector is on your premises, it’s important to make sure that someone from your business always stays with the inspector. Not only will this person be able to answer any questions and assist with the inspection process, but he or she can also document the same information as the inspector. If the inspector takes pictures of something, do the same. If he or she takes down measurements, record that information. This information may not be readily available to you, so saving these details can help in case you need to defend your business against a citation.
NOTED
You can ask questions to determine the details about what is being inspected and the nature of the visit. The inspector can also provide you with ways that can potentially improve the overall safety of your workplace. They may have inexpensive solutions observed from other worksites and inquire about options to improve any existing hazards.
NOW WHAT?
If your business is cited, you’ll want to address the hazards noted in the citation. You’ll also need to decide if you want to contest any violations, aim for early settlement, or for voluntary compliance. The specifics of your case will determine the best course of action for your business.
You need an expert on your team, and we can help! Hula Consulting will assist with your mock-inspection (gap audit) and give you a detailed report on what is necessary to correct to mitigate citations from an OSHA or #FDA inspection. Contact us today at 561.600.7025 or scott@hulaconsulting.com. We look forward to helping you with your #tea business!