OSHA Inspection Checklist

During the Inspection

Request the compliance officer's credentials and verify them with the local OSHA Area Office
Attend the opening conference and ask the officer to clarify the inspection scope (complaint, programmed, referral, or follow-up)
Assign the designated coordinator to accompany the officer during the entire walkaround per 29 CFR 1903.8
Take your own photographs and notes of everything the officer photographs or documents
Do not volunteer information beyond what is directly asked; answer questions honestly and factually
Ensure employee representatives are notified of their right to accompany the inspection per 29 CFR 1903.8(a)
Document any employee interviews the officer conducts, including who was interviewed and for how long
Correct any simple hazards immediately during the walkaround and document the correction
Attend the closing conference and request clarification on any potential violations identified

After the Inspection

Debrief all participants within 24 hours and compile a detailed written summary of the inspection
Review any citations received and note the abatement deadlines for each violation
Post citations at or near the location of the violation for three working days or until abated, whichever is longer, per 29 CFR 1903.16
Decide whether to contest citations within 15 working days of receipt per 29 CFR 1903.17
Create a corrective action plan with assigned owners, deadlines, and verification methods for each citation
Submit abatement certification documents to OSHA by the required date per 29 CFR 1903.19
File a Petition for Modification of Abatement (PMA) if additional time is needed per 29 CFR 1903.14a
Update training programs and safety procedures to address any gaps identified during the inspection
Schedule a follow-up internal audit within 30 days to verify all corrective actions are sustained

Frequently Asked Questions

An OSHA inspection follows four phases: the compliance officer presents credentials and an opening conference explains the scope, then a walkaround of the workplace occurs with employee interviews, followed by a closing conference summarizing findings. Employers have the right to accompany the officer during the walkaround per 29 CFR 1903.8.

Yes. Under the Fourth Amendment and the Supreme Court ruling in Marshall v. Barlow's Inc. (1978), employers can require OSHA to obtain an administrative warrant before conducting an inspection. However, refusing may delay but not prevent the inspection, and OSHA can obtain a warrant based on reasonable administrative grounds.

OSHA citations include an abatement date, which is the deadline to correct each violation. Typical abatement periods range from immediately for imminent dangers to 30 days for other-than-serious violations. Employers can file a Petition for Modification of Abatement (PMA) if they need more time, per 29 CFR 1903.14a.

As of 2026, OSHA maximum penalties are $16,550 per serious violation and $165,514 per willful or repeat violation. These amounts are adjusted annually for inflation under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. Failure to abate can result in penalties of up to $16,550 per day.

Yes. Multiple OSHA standards require documented training records, including Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200), Bloodborne Pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030), Lockout/Tagout (29 CFR 1910.147), and Respiratory Protection (29 CFR 1910.134). Records must include employee names, training dates, topics covered, and trainer qualifications.

Before the Inspection

During the Inspection

After the Inspection

Frequently Asked Questions

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