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What to Expect During an OSHA Inspection Business Management By Katie Navarra I f an OSHA inspector arrived at your office, business property or job site, would you be ready for an inspec- tion? Advanced notice for OSHA inspections is prohibited, meaning an inspector arrives, knocks on your door, shows his/her credentials, and tells you that you were selected for an inspection. In some instances, the visit may even be unplanned. "One contractor had a crew working on a highway planting, and an OSHA inspector just happened to be driving by, saw something out of place, pulled a U-turn, conducted an inspection and issued citations," said Sam Steel, PLANET safety advisor, and senior research associate at Penn State University. OSHA was established through the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, and was designed to "assure safe and health- ful working conditions for men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance." Every employer, regardless of the industry, is bound by OSHA's general code known as Section 5 (a) (1), which states that, "Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recog- nized hazards that are caus- ing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees..." Aside from the general duty cause, landscape, hor- ticultural lawn care and any employer in the green indus- try should be knowledgeable about the codes specific to the field. The codes cover topics such as 1910.25 (portable wood ladders), 1910.136 (foot pro- tection), 1910.138 (hand protection), 1910.1030 (blood-borne pathogens), 1910.332 (training) among many others. A detailed list is available at www.osha.gov/SLTC/landsacping/index.html. It is important to know that 25 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved plans outlining their own standards and enforcement policies (see sidebar). "The state regulations are at least as stringent, and usually more strict, than the federal regulations," Steel explained. Complying with OSHA standards is important to ensure a safe work environment for employees. While protecting employees is the number one priority, fol- lowing OSHA guidelines is important for financial reasons as well. A single citation can range from $5,000 to $7,500. Typically, a business that receives one cita- tion, receives multiple citations. "I helped one com- pany that received three citations totaling $42,500," said Steel. Most common citations for green industry businesses "I believe the number one violation in the green industry is the fail- ure to have a written safety program," he added. A properly docu- mented safety program in- cludes the company's policies, procedures and training provided. Written programs should include hazard communication, accident investigation, and a safety committee that meets regularly. Training must be provided in the worker's native language and in terms the worker under- stands and can relate to. After an inspector reviews the documents, he/she will likely ask to interview one or more of the workers to ask what type of 22 Landscape and Irrigation June 2014 www.landscapeirrigation.com Image ©istockphoto.com/lisafx