Regulatory Compliance
C D A J O U R N A L , V O L 5 0 , Nº 4
What To Expect During a Cal/OSHA Inspection CDA Practice Support The following Q&A is excerpted from Chapter 7 of the CDA Legal Reference Guide for California Dentists.
What happens during a Cal/OSHA inspection?
Complaint-based inspections are unannounced. Cal/OSHA will request the presence of the employer or a representative for the inspection. You can accompany the inspector during the walkthrough of the facility, but you may not be present during the inspector’s interviews with staff. An employee or employee representative may also accompany the inspector during the walk-through. The inspection starts with an opening conference in which the inspector provides information on the purpose and scope of the inspection and how it will be conducted. The inspector reviews required written plans and then walks through the facility taking photographs and speaking with staff as needed. At the end of the walk-through, the inspector meets with the employer for an exit conference. If violations were observed, the inspector may issue citations during the exit conference or provide the employer with a preliminary report, with citations to be issued at a closing conference that will be scheduled later. During the closing conference, Cal/ OSHA staff review their findings with the employer, including the nature of the violations and how they can be abated. Penalties are proposed and the employer is informed of the requirement to post a citation and other notices so employees may view them. Cal/OSHA informs the employer of the opportunity to hold an informal conference with the district
manager to discuss the citation and penalties and of the separate opportunity to appeal. Cal/OSHA’s inspection procedures are detailed in its policies and procedures manual available at dir.ca.gov/samples/search/querypnp.htm.
Do I have to provide the Cal/OSHA inspector access to my staff and office?
Always verify the identity of individuals to whom you allow access to
your office. Cal/OSHA prefers to have your permission to conduct the inspection. An inspector may be willing to wait while you finish treating a patient but will not wait beyond a reasonable time. If you are not present at the office when the inspector arrives, Cal/OSHA staff will attempt to contact you by telephone to gain permission. If the inspector cannot contact you, they will document the attempts to gain your permission and then will commence the inspection. If you
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