OSHA will make random, surprise visits and tell you they need to inspect your facility. You do not have to let them in, except under certain circumstances. Actually, if you were to let them in, anything they see is fair game for a citation and fine. Thus, “in the old days,” we refused to allow them to inspect unless they had a court order or a complaint, or a report of imminent danger in writing. The inspectors would try to bully their way in, and they would storm off, making threats of being back with a court order. That was usually the last time you heard from them.

If a company really wanted to comply with OSHA standards, you couldn’t call OSHA for help, because again, you could be cited (and fined) for anything they heard or saw while in your facility or on your property.

Today, a company can actually call OSHA and ask for a courtesy inspection without fear of punishment. However, if a company does this, they have twelve (12) months to fix any violation found and documented. At the end of that time period, OSHA will come back to inspect. So, before you invite OSHA in, it would be prudent to have assurance from the top that they are willing to correct anything that could be in violation. This can be very costly.

I am not condoning covering up any violations or unsafe conditions! Often, citations can come from small things, like a cord temporarily strung across a path by an employee five minutes before the inspector walks by. I wholeheartedly support comprehensive safety, health, hazard communications, wellness, and security programs.

Today, there are voluntary safety programs, with several levels of compliance, a company can earn. Called VPPs, (Voluntary Protection Programs), a company and OSHA enter an agreement to meet and often exceed OSHA’s minimum standards. Again, this is costly.

I am looking for two peer-reviewed articles that address the advantages and disadvantages of implementing an effective safety program and/or participating in one of the OSHA VPP programs.