Every year OSHA inspects thousands of workplaces from coast to coast. Of course, with so many businesses operating in each OSHA region and so few inspectors, the odds of being visited by OSHA are quite small for most employers. But since you never know, it is always best to be prepared. And to be well prepared, you need to appreciate the who, why, when, what and how of the inspection process, as well as your role in preparing for an inspection.
Their goal is to help employers and workers identify and reduce on-the-job hazards — not to nail employers or slap companies with big fines, although that can happen to companies that don’t make a concerted effort to comply with OSHA standards.