U.S. businesses lost a staggering $167 billion due to workplace injuries in 2021.
OSHA oversees seven million worksites nationwide, making workplace safety violation awareness significant for everyone involved. Common violations such as fall protection, hazard communication, and respiratory protection can pose serious risks when ignored.
The OSHA establishment search tool provides a solution. This public database allows anyone to verify a company’s safety record and track everything from serious violations to repeated infractions. The tool proves valuable whether you need to research potential employers, perform due diligence, or track your company’s compliance status.
Let’s explore how you can check workplace safety records quickly using the OSHA establishment search tool.
Understanding OSHA Establishment Search Basics
OSHA’s Establishment Search is a complete database that holds records of over 3 million workplace safety inspections since 1972. More than 120 OSHA Area and State offices update this database daily, which gives an explanation of workplace safety compliance and violations.
The Electronic Freedom of Information Act makes this database available to anyone who wants to review a company’s safety performance. Employers, employees, and other stakeholders can easily access important information about workplace safety standards and compliance.
The database shows two distinct types of cases. Closed cases display complete inspection details with final orders entered. Open cases can also be searched, but these records change often as investigations continue. Citation information becomes available 5 days after the employer receives it for federal inspections, while state inspection data takes 30 days to appear.
Users can find specific information through several search options:
- Establishment name
- Inspection ID number
- Industry classification (NAICS or SIC codes)
- Specific violation types
Each inspection record has these key details:
- The establishment’s location and contact information
- Inspection dates and types
- Violation classifications (Serious, Willful, Repeat, Other, or Unclassified)
- Original and current penalty amounts
- Abatement dates
- Contest information
Information gets entered as events happen during agency activities to maintain strict accuracy standards. Local OSHA field offices are ready to help if employers or employees notice any inaccuracies in the database entries.
This database is a great way to get insights for competitive bidding, subcontractor selection, and employment research. General contractors make use of this tool to evaluate potential risks and liabilities with their business partners.
Step-by-Step Search Process
OSHA’s enforcement database needs a step-by-step approach to find accurate workplace safety information. This guide will help you locate specific inspection records you need.
You should start by going to OSHA’s official website and find the Establishment Search page under Data & Statistics section. The company name goes in the establishment field. Use minimal words that uniquely identify the business because establishment names often have different variations in the database.
Your search results can be refined with these optional filters:
- State location
- Date range of inspections
- Case status (open or closed)
- Industry classification codes
The system shows a list of inspections that match your parameters once you click submit. Each inspection entry displays an Activity Number that works as a unique identifier and clickable link to detailed information.
Clicking an Activity Number gives you complete inspection details such as:
- Basic establishment information
- Inspection dates
- Violation classifications
- Penalty amounts
The “Violation Items” section appears at the bottom of each inspection record. Citation IDs link to specific violation details here. These citations show the exact text that describes each violation issued to the employer.
New information from OSHA offices nationwide updates the database daily. Federal inspection citation details show up five days after employer notification. State inspection records usually update within 30 days of citation issuance.
You can enter up to twelve specific Activity Numbers directly if you already know them. This approach works best when you track multiple locations or conduct detailed compliance reviews.
Note that open cases might display different information as their status changes often. Regular checks help ensure you have the most current workplace safety data available.
Reading and Understanding Search Results
OSHA violation data helps you make informed workplace safety assessments after search results appear. Each inspection record gives you vital details about workplace safety compliance and potential hazards.
OSHA classifies violations into six categories that have different implications:
- Serious Violations: These indicate hazards likely to cause death or serious injury, with penalties up to $16,550 per violation
- Willful Violations: Applied when employers knowingly disregard safety requirements, with maximum fines of $165,514 per violation
- Repeated Violations: Occur when similar violations are found within five years, with penalties up to $165,514
- Other-Than-Serious: Direct safety violations without serious consequences
- De Minimis: Minor technical violations that don’t affect safety directly
- Failure to Abate: Penalties of $16,550 per day beyond the abatement date
The inspection details section reveals significant information about workplace incidents. You’ll find these details in each violation entry:
- A unique identifier to track cases
- Standard violation numbers
- Citation issuance dates
- Required abatement deadlines
- Original and current penalty amounts
- Contest dates
- Settlement outcomes
Inspection records change constantly. Federal OSHA citations show up five days after employer notification. State inspection data usually updates within 30 days. Citations can change through:
- Amended documentation
- Settlement agreements
- Contest proceedings
- Judicial actions
You should look at the “Current Penalty” instead of original amounts to get the full picture, as penalties often change after settlements or judicial reviews. The “FTA Amount” shows extra charges when violations aren’t fixed on time.
Small businesses that show good faith efforts might pay lower penalties. But willful violations don’t qualify for these reductions. OSHA refers employers with multiple serious violations or safety indifference to the Severe Violator Enforcement Program. This leads to increased oversight and follow-up inspections.
Conclusion
OSHA’s establishment search tool serves as a valuable resource to anyone who cares about workplace safety. Learning to use this tool properly becomes crucial for employers who ensure compliance and employees who research potential workplaces.
The tool’s detailed database helps identify safety patterns through violation records, inspection histories, and penalty information. Businesses that monitor these records regularly maintain high safety standards and avoid violations that could get pricey, exceeding $165,000 for each incident.
Workplace safety demands continuous watchfulness and proactive measures. You can make informed decisions about workplace safety, protect your employees, and maintain regulatory compliance by using OSHA’s establishment search effectively. Safety records update frequently, so routine checks should be part of any detailed workplace safety strategy.
FAQs
The OSHA Establishment Search tool is a public database that allows users to access workplace safety records for millions of worksites across the United States. It contains information on safety inspections, violations, and penalties, updated daily by OSHA offices nationwide.
To check a company’s safety record, visit the OSHA website and navigate to the Establishment Search page. Enter the company name, and optionally use filters like state location or date range. Click submit to view a list of inspections, then select an Activity Number to access detailed information about violations and penalties.
OSHA classifies violations into categories such as Serious, Willful, Repeated, Other-Than-Serious, De Minimis, and Failure to Abate. Serious violations can result in penalties up to $16,550, while Willful and Repeated violations may incur fines up to $165,514 per incident.
The OSHA Establishment Search database is updated daily. For federal inspections, citation information becomes available 5 days after the employer receives it. State inspection data typically appears within 30 days of citation issuance.
Regularly checking OSHA safety records helps businesses maintain high safety standards, avoid costly violations, and protect employees. It also allows job seekers to research potential employers’ safety practices. Since workplace injuries cost U.S. businesses billions annually, staying informed about safety compliance is crucial for all stakeholders.
