Understanding OSHA Inspections and Violations

How OSHA Inspections Work

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces workplace safety standards under the OSH Act of 1970. When an inspector arrives at a worksite, the inspection follows a structured process: an opening conference with management, a physical walkthrough of the facility, interviews with employees, review of safety records, and a closing conference where preliminary findings are discussed.

Inspections are triggered by multiple factors, prioritized in this order: imminent danger situations, fatality and catastrophe investigations, employee complaints, referrals from other agencies, targeted inspections in high-hazard industries, and follow-up inspections at previously cited sites. With only about 1,850 federal inspectors covering millions of workplaces, OSHA relies heavily on complaint-driven and targeted enforcement.

Types of Violations

OSHA classifies violations by severity, which determines the maximum penalty:

• Other-Than-Serious: A hazard that would probably not cause death or serious physical harm, but still violates a standard. Max penalty: $16,131.
• Serious: A hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm, and the employer knew or should have known about it. Most common violation type. Max penalty: $16,131.
• Willful: The employer intentionally violated a standard or showed indifference to the law. Max penalty: $161,323. Criminal prosecution is possible for willful violations causing death.
• Repeated: The employer was previously cited for the same or a substantially similar violation. Max penalty: $161,323.
• Failure to Abate: The employer did not fix a previously cited hazard by the deadline. Penalty: up to $16,131 per day the hazard continues.

On PlainWorker, you can see the breakdown of violation types for every employer. Browse our repeat violators ranking to see which companies have the worst track records.

Understanding Penalty Amounts

The penalty amount you see on PlainWorker reflects the initial proposed penalty, which may be reduced through the settlement process. OSHA considers several factors when setting penalties: the severity of the hazard, the size of the business (small employers get reductions), the employer's good faith efforts, and history of previous violations.

Critics note that even maximum OSHA penalties are modest compared to the revenue of large corporations. A $161K willful violation penalty may represent a minor expense for a Fortune 500 company. This has led to calls for increased penalties, and amounts are adjusted for inflation annually. See the most penalized employers to understand the scale.

How to Research an Employer

Whether you're a job seeker evaluating a potential employer or a worker concerned about your current workplace, PlainWorker gives you the tools to check:

1. Search for an employer by name to see their complete inspection history.
2. Check the number and types of violations — repeated and willful violations are the biggest red flags.
3. Look at the trend — are violations increasing or decreasing over time?
4. Compare against industry averages to see if the employer is better or worse than peers.
5. Check for WHD (Wage and Hour Division) enforcement actions — wage theft often correlates with safety issues.

Frequently Asked Questions