The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a government agency that ensures safe and healthy working conditions by enforcing standards and regulations. If OSHA shows up at your healthcare or dental facility it's probably for an inspection. Here are steps to consider:
- Be Prepared: The best way to handle an OSHA inspection is to be prepared. This means having your exposure control plan and other safety policies in place, training employees, and regularly checking and maintaining your facility to avoid accidents and injuries. Our 2023 OSHA Compliance System for Healthcare or Dentistry has everything you need to get prepared; easily and affordably.
- Be Respectful and Professional: Treat the OSHA inspector with respect and professionalism. They are just doing their job, and it's in everyone's best interest to maintain a cooperative attitude.
- Ask for Identification: When the inspector arrives, ask for identification to confirm that they are indeed from OSHA.
- Understand the Reason for the Visit: OSHA typically conducts inspections based on specific complaints, reported incidents, or randomly as part of a broader initiative. Ask the inspector about the reason for the visit.
- Have a Designated Representative: It's a good idea to have a designated person who will accompany the OSHA inspector during the inspection. This person should be familiar with your company's operations, safety protocols, and OSHA regulations.
- Document Everything: Take detailed notes and pictures during the inspection. If the inspector identifies potential violations, you should have your own record of what was found.
- Don't Volunteer Information: Provide only the information that is requested. Don't volunteer additional information, as it could lead to additional areas of inquiry.
- Ask Questions: If you're not sure about something, ask. It's better to get clarification during the inspection than to guess and possibly make a mistake.
- Review the Results: After the inspection, the OSHA inspector will review the findings with you. If there are any violations, you'll be given a timeframe for correcting them.
- Consult with a Professional if Needed: We provide toll-free phone support to our customers for all OSHA and HIPAA related questions. This includes responding to an OSHA inspection or a HIPAA audit. We helped all types of specialties abate fines and make the process as easy as possible.
Remember, OSHA's primary role is to ensure the safety and health of workers. Cooperating with an inspection and promptly addressing any identified issues is not just a legal requirement, but also an important part of maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.