State OSHA Inspection and Citation
Situation
A dental practice manager contacted us following a random state OSHA inspection at their office. The inspection led to several follow-up emails over the course of a few months, with OSHA requesting specific documentation to be provided. Eventually, the practice received citations for three serious standard violations, and penalties were assessed.
The dental practice faced three serious OSHA citations due to non-compliance with certain workplace safety standards. These citations carried significant penalties and posed a risk to the practice’s reputation and operational efficiency.
Results
The dental practice’s proactive approach, combined with expert guidance, enabled them to successfully navigate the OSHA inspection process, mitigate penalties, and enhance their overall compliance framework. This case underscores the importance of thorough preparation, effective communication, and the value of professional support in managing compliance challenges.
How did this practice address the alleged violations? After our consultation, they signed on for DoctorsManagement’s ongoing OSHA and HIPAA services. Together, we completed the following steps:
- Initial Consultation and Documentation Review:
- We conducted a thorough review of the OSHA citations and the requested documentation.
- A comprehensive assessment of the practice’s responses to those requests was performed to identify areas of non-compliance.
- Policy and Procedure Manual Review:
- The practice’s policy and procedure manual was carefully reviewed to ensure alignment with OSHA standards.
- We identified and corrected any gaps in the manual, ensuring that it accurately reflected the practice’s safety protocols.
- We guided the practice manager in sending a formal letter to the state OSHA commissioner to provide proper notice of intent to contest the citations and penalties for the practice.
- Preparation for Informal Conference:
- Detailed responses were drafted to explain the practice’s policies and procedures, emphasizing compliance efforts and corrective actions taken post-inspection.
- Documentation supporting the practice’s adherence to OSHA standards was compiled including training records, employee exposure records, and annual risk assessments.
- Informal Conference Participation:
- We supported the practice manager in the presentation of the reviewed and updated policy and procedure manual.
- Demonstrated compliance efforts and provided documentation, leading to the removal of two citations.
- Abatement of Remaining Citation:
- For the final citation that remained, we assisted the practice in submitting an abatement certificate.
- This certificate documented the specific corrective actions taken by the practice to address the cited violation.
- Through effective demonstration of good faith efforts to comply, we successfully reduced the penalty amount from the initial assessment to $100 total, which was resolved during the conference.
