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144 Introduction to OSHA
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OSHA Inspections

OSHA enforces standards through inspections, conducted by about 2,400 state and federal inspectors.

At this rate, it would take about 100 years for OSHA to inspect every workplace once. Therefore, OSHA places the highest inspection priority on workplaces based on the nature of the reported hazardous conditions.

Inspection Priorities

Unprogrammed inspections are prioritized and assigned to compliance officers in response to alleged hazardous working conditions identified at a specific worksite. Unprogrammed inspections are prioritized as follows:

  1. imminent danger
  2. fatalities/catastrophes
  3. complaints/referrals
  4. follow up/monitoring

Programmed Inspections are the most common type of OSHA inspection and scheduled by OSHA based upon objective or neutral selection criteria.

For more information on types of OSHA inspections, see OSHA Field Operations Manual Chapter 2

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-5. Which OSHA unprogrammed inspection has the HIGHEST priority?