OSHA visit

MA Arborist

MA Arborist

Branched out member
Location
Cape Cod
Has anyone here ever had an OSHA inspector visit a job site?

If so, can you specify what they were looking for?

Because my new Mek will be delivered soon I want to be prepared. Proper PPE is always worn on site. My brother and I both have our state hoisting licenses for lifting and telescopic boom cranes. I also have my CCR. Just curious what else is required.
 
Follow the ANSI Z133 to the line. If you have a state osha plan know it and be compliant. As far as the crane be compliant with AMSE B30 for knucklebone cranes and rigging. Make sure shackles are pinned and knutted or moused for critical lifts. Make sure all rigging is tagged and inspected. Make sure you have justification to hoisting the climber if doin so and that your primary and secondary tie in is rated, tagged and knutted/pinned if using a shackle. This is an incredibly broad question. You should already be following the Z and would know if you're compliant with tree things. The crane is a whole other issue. Take a look at whats mentioned above. If you have additional questions let me know, happy to help. Oh and have inspection records and JSA for the lift. Inspection records of the crane and chassis.
 
Over the years I've heard how routine OSHA inspections are completed.

Most are done by inspectors that are generalists.They look at things that are common across the board in any workplace but rarely look at the more specific violations.

The largest tree company in town was inspected. The story I was told was that the inspector spent time in the front admin/sales office looking closely at the setup. A citation was written for an extension cord with the ground plug pulled out. When the inspector walked into the shop area where the trucks and equipment were parked and maintained it was only a walk-through eye-ball type inspection. Nothing was 'inspected' so to speak. None of the crews in the field were ever inspected.

There is a poster that OSHA provides that is supposed to be posted for all employees to read. Something about employees rights. At one time not having this posted was the #1 source of fine revenue. Look for the seemingly common things

OSHA will work with you to keep your operations compliant. Looking on their website and giving the office a call will get you on track.

If fines are levied during an inspection expect them to be large and attention getting. There is an appeals/negotiation process where the company gets the chance to grovel and mea culpa and have the fines reduced/eliminated by showing good faith in tidying up the offenses and their operation in general.
 
Tom Dunlap said:
Over the years I've heard how routine OSHA inspections are completed.

Most are done by inspectors that are generalists.They look at things that are common across the board in any workplace but rarely look at the more specific violations.

The largest tree company in town was inspected. The story I was told was that the inspector spent time in the front admin/sales office looking closely at the setup. A citation was written for an extension cord with the ground plug pulled out. When the inspector walked into the shop area where the trucks and equipment were parked and maintained it was only a walk-through eye-ball type inspection. Nothing was 'inspected' so to speak. None of the crews in the field were ever inspected.

There is a poster that OSHA provides that is supposed to be posted for all employees to read. Something about employees rights. At one time not having this posted was the #1 source of fine revenue. Look for the seemingly common things

OSHA will work with you to keep your operations compliant. Looking on their website and giving the office a call will get you on track.

If fines are levied during an inspection expect them to be large and attention getting. There is an appeals/negotiation process where the company gets the chance to grovel and mea culpa and have the fines reduced/eliminated by showing good faith in tidying up the offenses and their operation in general.
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Tom. I’ve heard osha stories very similar to your examples.
 
OSHA will provide samples of employee training manuals that can be customized to fit your company. Always give these to new employees and have then sign that they've received them. Always make them available and freely dispersed. They can be printed on the company computer. This document can be very important should an accident and investigation happen.

They will even read your manual and make suggestions.

We signed up for a voluntary OSHA inspection in the early 1990's with the promise that no mater what they found, that we would be given a chance to make corrections without any penalties.

We did this after hearing an OSHA speaker at a Penn-Del meeting.

Glad we did.

So to answer the question that is the title of this thread: Yes, we have had a visit from OSHA at the office, and then went on to a job site in action. All planned ahead.
 
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For several years, I was the primary person to respond to OSHA showing up at 20 industrial facilities in my division of the company. The majority of the visits were due to complaints by contractor employees who were angry about something or terminated (some facilities had 1500 contractors on site during peak maintenance activities, so not unusual for someone to get worked up and call OSHA for a dubious reason.) Other visits were due to injuries. Never had a single programmed inspection.

What an individual compliance officer looks at varies quite a bit with their experience and background. They typically focus on what they know best. Some will be more paperwork focused, some more field inspection focused.

While you can't legally refuse an inspection, just remember you don't have to do any work for them to observe. If you had a high risk operation about to commence when a compliance officer shows up, you can have everyone take a break, go to lunch, etc. You're not obligated to perform for them. Of course, you'll have to decided if that's worth it to you.

Make sure you're compliant with all the basics that are "low hanging fruit" for any compliance officer.
 
I learned a lot taking a OSHA class on teaching the OSHA 30 classes. We had people in our class who worked for Oregon OSHA and their perspective was helpful.

Seems like one of the most important things OSHA is going to want to see especially for employees is documentation. Everything has to be documented or it never happened in their eyes. Every new employee needs to be trained on various things and that training needs to be documented.

MSDS sheets need to be there for all chemicals employees are exposed to so they can know what they are being exposed to and what to do if they are exposed in a bad way.


Like others have said, everyone is going to have something that they specialize in and always look for. As a safety inspector in California, the best way to get rid of me quickly was good housekeeping. A clean well organized job site with obvious things like cones, a legible JSA handed to me and gone over by a crew member as soon as I got on site. I was pretty much ready to get in my vehicle when I saw those things. But if you start with a bad impression, you know that if you start digging you are quickly going to find more. Don’t give them easy things to make them start digging.
 
ATH said:
Are you a TCIA member?

If not, join. They'll give you tools and advice.
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I’m a member of Massachusetts Arborists Association and I am a Massachusetts certified arborist since 1998. Bachelor degree in Urban forestry as well. The lead Professor in the forestry department had always insisted that you “don’t” want a visit from osha. I’ve always kept that statement in mind

I realize now that my initial question was too broad. I am up to date with ANSI and the Z133
I’ve also attended seminars provided by OSHA (MAA credits).

I am asking about first hand experience with an OSHA inspector visiting a job site

Thanks to all that have replied so far. Sorry if I was not clear enough
 
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RyanCafferky said:
I learned a lot taking a OSHA class on teaching the OSHA 30 classes. We had people in our class who worked for Oregon OSHA and their perspective was helpful.

Seems like one of the most important things OSHA is going to want to see especially for employees is documentation. Everything has to be documented or it never happened in their eyes. Every new employee needs to be trained on various things and that training needs to be documented.

MSDS sheets need to be there for all chemicals employees are exposed to so they can know what they are being exposed to and what to do if they are exposed in a bad way.


Like others have said, everyone is going to have something that they specialize in and always look for. As a safety inspector in California, the best way to get rid of me quickly was good housekeeping. A clean well organized job site with obvious things like cones, a legible JSA handed to me and gone over by a crew member as soon as I got on site. I was pretty much ready to get in my vehicle when I saw those things. But if you start with a bad impression, you know that if you start digging you are quickly going to find more. Don’t give them easy things to make them start digging.
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The documentation requirements by OSHA are what Ive heard about in the past. Thank you for explaining that.
 
TreeCo said:
OSHA will provide samples of employee training manuals that can be customized to fit your company. Always give these to new employees and have then sign that they've received them. Always make them available and freely dispersed. They can be printed on the company computer. This document can be very important should an accident and investigation happen.

They will even read your manual and make suggestions.

We signed up for a voluntary OSHA inspection in the early 1990's with the promise that no mater what they found, that we would be given a chance to make corrections without any penalties.

We did this after hearing an OSHA speaker at a Penn-Del meeting.

Glad we did.

So to answer the question that is the title of this thread: Yes, we have had a visit from OSHA at the office, and then went on to a job site in action. All planned ahead.
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I like the idea of a voluntary inspection.

I have a customer scheduled for late winter. Her son got me the job and he happens to be an OSHA inspector. I might ask him to stop by.

My instructor at crane school said:
“When you have a crane it’s not a matter of if, but when that OSHA stops by.”
 
MA Arborist said:
Her son got me the job and he happens to be an OSHA inspector. I might ask him to stop by.
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My guess is that he will, or should, avoid coming to your jobsite or making comments. There is no time when he can speak 'off the record' or casually to give you insights. Before asking him to comment ask him if he's allowed to 'take off his badge' and help you out. I hope not.

OSHA inspectors should be treated with the same respect that you would a US Marshall. They have very similar authority to enforce laws and regulations but don't carry guns. It goes without saying, don't touch them either, they are Federal Employees. Not cooperating with an OSHA Inspection will result in them getting in touch with a Federal Judge who will unroll really uncomfortable subpoenas, injunctions and arrest warrants. Don't go there.
 
All good advice, but as someone stated above, if you're not a member of TCIA, become one. They, more than anyone here knows how to deal with OSHA directly, as they deal with the Feds daily and can tell you exactly what to expect and what you need when a visit eventually happens, which it will, especially since you are in Mass. They can also deal as an unbiased go-between group in the event that fines are issued.

TCIA told members 2 years ago that OSHA hired extra inspectors specifically for the East Coast tree care companies specifically to handle more onsite inspections, so be prepared.

I say bring on the OSHA inspectors to our jobsites, maybe a few fines to the cowboy, joke companies will help to get the word out, that there's people out there who actually care about safety.
 
chris_girard said:
All good advice, but as someone stated above, if you're not a member of TCIA, become one. They, more than anyone here knows how to deal with OSHA directly, as they deal with the Feds daily and can tell you exactly what to expect and what you need when a visit eventually happens, which it will, especially since you are in Mass. They can also deal as an unbiased go-between group in the event that fines are issued.

TCIA told members 2 years ago that OSHA hired extra inspectors specifically for the East Coast tree care companies specifically to handle more onsite inspections, so be prepared.

I say bring on the OSHA inspectors to our jobsites, maybe a few fines to the cowboy, joke companies will help to get the word out, that there's people out there who actually care about safety.
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Do you have any data on how many tree companies are out there that don’t even know what the TCIA is? Or how many of those companies are simply ignorant (meaning they know better but choose to ignore)? There’s a huge trend in our industry for people to follow in the path of their mentor (good or bad practices, good or bad perspectives). If people’s live’s are put at risk due to bad practice or attitude, an OSHA fine might just serve to harden an unhealthy MO. I’d rather try to have a conversation with people putting their life or those of others at risk rather than waiting for a fine to do some magical transformation. We can all be a part of “getting the word out”.
 
The OSHA website states their roles of enforcement and the "Outreach Program". As a previous post said you can request a visit, they will attend and guide you with what needs to be rectified without citations (provided you fix it).
I checked this by calling an inspector at the state office prior to presenting at RAW Feb 23 in MN. He was very positive, easy to talk with and confirmed the information. The 1970 Act for Safety and Health comes from the "people" as does OSHA's powers to enforce.
I guess we want, safer work places (think of sons and daughters at work), inspectors to uphold the Act and they will also help us acheive it. It doesn't get much clearer I reckon. Carrot or stick?
 
Hey Graeme, that's good to hear.

People seem to have an unrealistic notion that OSHA is "out to get them" because they enforce laws that are out there to actually protect them. I would like to think that inspectors coming onto a jobsite for an inspection would be more likely to give out a Carrot, but I have to admit that I'm still fearful of the big Stick that they can dish out, in the event that you get one who wants to throw their weight around.

Anytime that we do crane work, I have a copy of my JSA (Job Safety Analysis), ANSI Z133 and TCIA's BMP Manual for crane work on hand. Keeping those in the truck always makes me feel better in the event that OSHA shows up.
 
chris_girard said:
Hey Graeme, that's good to hear.

People seem to have an unrealistic notion that OSHA is "out to get them" because they enforce laws that are out there to actually protect them. I would like to think that inspectors coming onto a jobsite for an inspection would be more likely to give out a Carrot, but I have to admit that I'm still fearful of the big Stick that they can dish out, in the event that you get one who wants to throw their weight around.

Anytime that we do crane work, I have a copy of my JSA (Job Safety Analysis), ANSI Z133 and TCIA's BMP Manual for crane work on hand. Keeping those in the truck always makes me feel better in the event that OSHA shows up.
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Same here. I carry it all as far as regs and even though not required, I have MSDS sheets for everything. Figured I could suck up and offer them and play dumb knowing I don't need them.
 
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