Federal OSHA is the regulatory agency responsible for promoting workers health and safety in the United States. Cal/OSHA is the regulatory agency responsible for promoting workers health and safety in California. In addition, many states have approved OSHAapproved state occupational safety and health programs. Please contact the Production Safety Consultant to determine if your state is covered by Cal/OSHA, Federal
OSHA, a state program or both. Regardless of the agency, their first priority is to prevent on the job injury and illness. Health & safety inspectors are assigned to inspect worksites to ensure a healthy and safe workplace and that the production is complying with Federal and state health and safety regulations.
Without advance notice, an Inspector may visit any production site to inspect the workplace to identify hazards and unsafe work practices that could cause injury or illness. An Inspector may also inspect the site if a serious incident / injury has occurred, in response to a received complaint or if an area of potential noncompliance is noticed while walking or driving by the production location.
WHAT TO DO WHEN AN INSPECTOR ARRIVES
When an inspector arrives on site it is important that he / she meets with the Safety Program Director. If you are the first person to have contact with the inspector please do the following:
- Immediately notify the Production Safety Director, Production Safety Consultant and the most senior crew member on site that a regulatory agency inspector has arrived;
- Be courteous and cooperative
- Ask the inspector for credentials and identification
- Inquire as to the nature and reason for the inspection
- Inform the inspector that the inspection cannot proceed without authorization from the Production Safety Consultant or their designate. Inform the inspector that contact is being / has been made.
- If authorized by the Production Safety Consultant, accompany the inspector directly to the area in question; do not let the inspector wander into other areas.
- Do not sign anything or provide any written documentation; ask that the inspector’s request for any material be put in writing so that the Production may respond in writing. Inform the inspector that this is the Production’s policy.
- Under Cal/OSHA and Federal OSHA regulations, an inspector has the right to privately interview crew members. However, the crew member must be informed by the Production that they have the right to either a union representative or an attorney present during the interview.
- The inspector has the right to take photographs. However, it is important that the Production take duplicate photographs of those taken by the inspector.
- Give concise answers to questions posed by the inspector. Do not volunteer information.
- Take detailed notes on the inspection. Immediately after the inspection, forward a copy of the notes to the Production Safety Consultant.
- Inspectors are different. In many cases their purpose is to determine whether there is a basis for pursuing criminal action. An inspector may not inform you of this. However, you have the right to remain silent and a right to have legal counsel present when making statements to inspectors.