OSHA Audit 101 Workshop

OSHA Audit 101 - Are You Inspection Ready?

An OSHA audit is an official inspection conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to ensure workplace compliance with safety and health standards. These audits can be programmed—based on industry risk—or complaint-based, following reports of unsafe conditions or incidents. OSHA inspections are often triggered by workplace injuries, employee complaints, or patterns of high-risk operations. Before an inspection, companies should prepare by organizing safety documents, training staff on audit protocols, and maintaining up-to-date records. During the audit, inspectors review documentation, conduct walk throughs, and interview employees, focusing on hazard controls, PPE use, signage, and training logs. Employers should cooperate respectfully, provide requested materials, and avoid obstructing the process. Common findings include issues like poor record keeping, missing PPE, or inadequate training. After the audit, OSHA may issue citations and set abatement deadlines for corrections. To stay prepared, organizations should foster an audit-ready culture through regular compliance reviews, mock inspections, and proactive safety programs. The session concludes with Q&A and action planning to help participants build their own OSHA readiness checklist.

Presented by Victor Shell, CSA Director of Safety & Transportation