OSHA Inspections

FreedomTree

FreedomTree

Location
Ames Iowa
With the recent news that OSHA will be cracking down on tree companies in the Illinois and Ohio regions, I am curious how many of you have had your job sites inspected by OSHA and what to expect. Anything specific that you can remember they were looking for or asked about? Things to say (or NOT to say)? I am ordering TCIA's "Surviving an OSHA Inspection" to go over with my crew, but I'm interested in hearing input from you guys too.

TCIA News
 
I have been inspected. The best defence is to be in TOTAL compliance at that time. The guy who inspected me knew very little about what was and wasnt going on. He sat in his car and video taped us for a while before he approached.
Another tip: watch for people watching you. There are always people that are interested in what you are doing but these folks are different.
When an inspector arrives on site all work should stop and no one should say ANYTHING to the inspector.
Honestly after looking into it there isn't much they can do if you get in your truck and leave. Yes they can obtain a warrent but it's not very likely.
The reason I was inspected was because civilians were standing near the work zone without hard hats. It always stings me when I see pictures of local companies in the paper with multiple violations going on- OSHA refused to follow up on any of these when I reported them.
 
Every professional commercial tree service I've subbed for has a hard policy of weekly safety meetings that the whole company attended whether it was twenty men or sixty men, all on company time.

Company policies like these becoming integral to the way that company operates on a daily basis, hardhats, safety glasses, medkits, fire extinguishers on every piece of company equipment with a motor, proper traffic and pedestrian control signage and barriers etc.

Actual enforcement of these policies to the point they become SOP is precisely what distinguishes the pro companies from the amateurs depending on dumb luck, and scared to death of OSHA inspections for very good reasons.

Companies that spend both time and money to educate their employees each week are the ones I like subbing for, and it's no coincidence that they're also the most profitable to their owner(s).

jomoco
 
What Skew said, plus, document all safety meetings and each topic. Been inspected twice, both during crane assisted removals. OSHA inspector knew what to look for on the crane, but had no idea about tree care operations. Thoroughly checked the truck and chipper, and asked for our emergency plan, which we didn't have. Then asked each crew member individually if we did a job briefing and what the plan was. No citations.
 
Norm made he best point. Documentation. If you do not have it recorded, it hasn't/doesn't happen. You could be the safest company out there, but if its not documented, you will have a harder time proving you are following the rules.
 
+3 on the documentation. That starts with a written company policy that is given to every employee and the employee signs off that they have recieved and understand the policy. Following that, all training, tailgate, conference etc needs to be documented. As was said, if it isn't written, it never happened. A friend just went through an OSHA violation/appeal process and won because of his training and documentation record. One of his comments to me was, you are not innocent til proven guilty with OSHA, but guilty and have to prove your innocence.
 
It's a good idea to have documentation of all equipment operators' training. This could include a sign in sheet for the training with all who were present plus a separate line for the instructor (agency delegated competent person); a caution sheet with cautions pulled directly from operator's manuals, osha and ansi standards, company policies, etc.; and a hands on skills evaluation sheet completed by the instructor. Another good thing to include is the instructor's training agenda.
 
Company policy defines any and all issues that may arise. Sick time, vacation time, hours of work, emergency call out situations and disclipline. ANSI Z-133 also allows employer disgression in certain things that must be defined. Obviously sick time etc does not interest osha, but the employer disgression items will. Again, if it ain't in writing, it never happened.
 
OK. Time for shameless self promotion. This topics fits the type of consulting I do. To get you an idea of what documentation you need, click the link in my signature and get your free basic arborist safety manual.
Its basic and simple for small businesses, but to give you an idea of what you need, its a start.
 
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