American businesses lost a staggering $167 billion to workplace injuries in 2021 alone.
OSHA monitors seven million worksites throughout the United States. Safety violations, from fall protection failures to respiratory hazards, continue putting workers at risk daily.
The OSHA establishment search serves as a vital public database that reveals workplace safety records. Anyone can access these violation records under the Freedom of Information Act. This makes it simple to research potential employers or verify contractor safety histories.
Our guide will help you understand these violation records and direct you through the OSHA establishment search process. Let’s explore what workplace safety records might reveal!
Understanding OSHA’s Public Database
OSHA’s public database acts as a central repository with records of over 3 million workplace safety inspections since 1972. The enforcement database gives unprecedented access to workplace safety records through the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS).
Each incident record contains employer names, specific locations, injury descriptions and events that caused workplace incidents. The Injury Tracking Application (ITA) helps OSHA collect data from establishments that meet certain size and industry criteria.
Companies with 250 or more employees must submit Form 300A summary data unless exempt industries apply. Businesses with 20-249 employees in specific high-risk sectors need to report their safety records. Companies with 100 or more employees will submit detailed case information from Forms 300 and 301 starting 2024.
Local federal and state offices continuously update the database with new information. A brief delay exists when accessing citation details – 5 days for federal inspections and 30 days for state inspections after employers receive them.
OSHA uses this collected data for multiple purposes:
- Directing enforcement programs and measuring performance
- Helping inspectors focus on specific workplace hazards
- Enabling employers to implement safety programs that work
- Providing base data for the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual survey
These public records serve a broader purpose. Workers make informed decisions about potential employers while researchers analyze workplace safety trends. Journalists often break down workplaces with concerning safety records.
OSHA believes this transparency guides organizations toward reduced occupational injuries and illnesses. Employers can measure their safety performance against industry peers, which promotes a culture of accountability and continuous improvement in workplace safety standards.
How to Search Like a Pro
OSHA’s establishment database might look overwhelming at first glance. Learning a few simple techniques will help you find valuable workplace safety information quickly. The database gets daily updates from over 120 OSHA Area and State offices, which gives you access to the latest safety records.
You can start your search on OSHA.gov by selecting “Establishment Search” from the A to Z index. Type the company name in the establishment field. Company names aren’t unique, so include just enough words to find the right company.
These advanced search features will give you better results:
- ✅Choose between federal inspections, state inspections, or both
- ✅Select specific OSHA area offices
- ✅Filter by inspection date ranges (maximum 10-year span)
- ✅View both open and closed cases
Professional search techniques make your search more effective:
- ✅Use automatic “and” queries – Simply type multiple terms together (example: “noise hearing”)
- ✅Enclose exact phrases in quotation marks to find specific matches
- ✅Apply wildcards – Use “%” for multiple characters or “_” for single characters
- ✅Combine search operators with parentheses for complex queries
Each inspection result shows vital information including:
- ✅Activity number (unique identifier)
- ✅Inspection start date
- ✅Responsible OSHA office
- ✅Type of inspection
- ✅Number of violations
- ✅Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code
You can sort results by date, name, office, or state. Clicking specific Activity numbers shows detailed inspection information, including violation details and penalties.
Inspection records can change until cases close, especially during citation modifications through settlements or contest proceedings. Regular checks will help you stay updated about workplace safety violations.
Decoding Violation Records
OSHA’s violation records make more sense once you understand their classification system. They categorize each violation based on how severe it is and what the employer intended. The penalties for these violations change yearly due to inflation.
Willful violations are the most serious type. These happen when employers deliberately ignore safety rules or don’t care about their workers’ safety. Each incident can lead to fines up to $165,514. Right behind these are Repeat violations. OSHA issues these when employers break the same rule again within five years.
Serious violations happen when hazards could kill or seriously harm workers. While not as severe as willful ones, these violations still come with hefty fines up to $16,550. Then there are Other-Than-Serious violations that deal with paperwork or minor technical issues. These carry similar maximum penalties.
Every OSHA citation includes:
- Standard reference numbers
- Details about what rules were broken
- Deadlines to fix the problems
- Suggested fines
- Time limits to challenge the citation
Companies must display these citations near where the violation occurred so employees can see them. The notice stays up for three working days or until the problem gets fixed – whichever takes longer.
Companies that receive citations have two choices:
- Fix the problems by the given deadline
- Ask for an informal meeting within 15 working days to talk about the violations
Taking responsibility for citations has lasting effects. These citations stay on public record forever and can impact future inspections and fines. Courts might also use them as evidence in worker compensation cases or lawsuits.
OSHA keeps track of the worst offenders through their Severe Violator Enforcement Program. This public list usually includes companies with willful violations tied to deaths or multiple serious safety issues. Companies on this list face more frequent inspections and closer monitoring from regulators.
Conclusion
OSHA’s establishment search plays a significant role for anyone who cares about workplace safety. This powerful database gives us unmatched access to information about company safety records and violations.
The right search techniques help us discover vital details about potential employers or contractors. Workers and businesses can make better decisions by checking violation histories and researching safety records.
These public records do more than just store data. They showcase OSHA’s steadfast dedication to workplace safety transparency. Every violation record, inspection detail, and citation reveals workplace conditions throughout America.
These records’ impact goes way beyond the reach and influence of simple documentation. Companies should know their safety practices become part of their permanent public record. This affects everything from future inspections to potential legal proceedings. Strong safety standards protect workers and build a reputation for workplace safety excellence.
Workplace safety needs constant attention. OSHA’s establishment search provides the tools to verify compliance and create safer working environments for all employees.
FAQs
OSHA generally does not call businesses before inspections. They usually conduct surprise visits to assess workplace safety conditions. However, in some cases, they may contact businesses to follow up on specific complaints or schedule access to secured areas.
Common OSHA violations in auto repair shops include improper storage of flammable materials, lack of proper safety equipment like eyewash stations and fire extinguishers, inadequate machine guarding, and failure to maintain up-to-date safety documentation and training records.
Small businesses can prepare by conducting regular self-assessments, ensuring all safety equipment is properly maintained, keeping safety documentation up-to-date, providing ongoing employee safety training, and addressing any potential hazards promptly.
While businesses with fewer than 10 employees are exempt from some OSHA recordkeeping requirements, they are still subject to OSHA safety standards and can be inspected, especially in response to serious complaints or incidents.
If you suspect an OSHA scam call, do not provide any information. Instead, ask for the caller’s name and office, then contact your local OSHA office directly using their official website to verify the legitimacy of the call. Report any confirmed scam attempts to OSHA.
