7 Things Managers Do in the First 10 Minutes That Ruin an OSHA Inspection

What happens in the first 10 minutes of an OSHA inspection can set the tone for everything that follows.

When OSHA unexpectedly walks through the door, people get nervous. They start talking too much, rushing decisions, grabbing the wrong people, and sometimes making the inspection harder than it needs to be.

In this episode of Help with OSHA, I break down the 7 mistakes companies make in the first 10 minutes of an OSHA inspection and explain exactly what you should do instead.

In This Episode, You'll Learn

• Why your receptionist, security guard, or front-office employee needs to know how to handle OSHA
• Why being rude or defensive can immediately create problems
• Why you should always verify the inspector's credentials
• Who should be involved in the opening conference
• Why understanding the scope of the inspection is critical
• Why talking too much can unnecessarily expand the inspection
• Why OSHA inspectors should not simply wander through your facility alone
• How to organize your documentation so you can quickly provide what OSHA requests
• Why being prepared every day is better than scrambling after OSHA arrives

One of the biggest themes in this episode is simple:

The OSHA inspector is not the enemy. Being unprepared is the enemy.

Your goal should be to remain professional, understand why OSHA is there, control the flow of information, and have your team and documentation ready before an inspection ever happens.

Get the Free OSHA Audit Checklist

If you're not sure where to start preparing your company for an OSHA inspection, visit:

www.helpwithosha.com

There you'll find my free OSHA Audit Checklist along with a short video walkthrough that explains how to use it.

Join the OSHA Audit Ready Challenge

Want to go beyond a checklist and actually prepare your company for an unexpected OSHA inspection?

Visit: www.helpwithosha.com/challenge

During the OSHA Audit Ready Challenge, we cover why OSHA may visit, the documentation you need, what inspectors look for during the walkthrough, common mistakes, and how to organize your OSHA Audit Ready information.

If this episode was helpful, subscribe to the Help with OSHA Podcast, share it with another safety manager, and send it to someone responsible for safety at their company.

Until next time, do everything you can to keep the people you work with safe.

Because no one should get hurt at work.