What Happens When OSHA Knocks? Highlights from Our General Industry Roundtable
On September 22, Seubert welcomed general industry employers to Seubert U on Pittsburgh’s North Shore for our General Industries OSHA Compliance Roundtable. The goal was simple: give safety leaders, operations managers and business owners a candid, real-world look at how OSHA inspections unfold and what employers can do before, during and after one.
The panel brought very different perspectives to the table:
- Mark Hairston, General Industry Practice Leader at Seubert & Associates, Inc.
- Paul Mueller, President of Loss Prevention Services, Inc., who helps employers build safety programs and represents them during inspections
- Frank Librich, retired Assistant Director of OSHA Pittsburgh, who spent years on the enforcement side
- Tod Morrow, President of Morrow & Meyer LLC, an OSHA defense attorney
Having a former OSHA official and a defense attorney in the same room made for a lively conversation, and attendees didn’t hold back on questions.
Your safety program is only as strong as what happens on the floor
The discussion opened with a reality check. Many employers have written safety policies that mirror the OSHA standard but don’t reflect the work their people actually do. The panel also challenged attendees to think about how they measure whether training is working, not just whether it happened.
Knowing why OSHA is there changes everything
Inspections can start in several ways, from serious incidents to employee complaints to referrals from other agencies. Frank walked the room through how OSHA prioritizes its visits and why the reason for an inspection matters for how an employer responds.
The inspection itself is where things can go sideways
Some of the most memorable moments came from real stories: an inspection that started with one machine and quickly grew, and employee interviews that took a case in an unexpected direction. The panel shared practical guidance on keeping an inspection focused while staying respectful and cooperative.
Citations aren’t always the final word
One of the biggest surprises for attendees: many employers pay citations they could have challenged. The panel discussed what happens after citations are issued and why employers have more options than they often realize.
In construction? Join us November 10th
If you work in construction, our next roundtable is built for you. On Tuesday, November 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Seubert will host a Construction OSHA Roundtable at Seubert U featuring Paul, Frank and Tod, along with Kris Queen, Seubert’s Construction Industry Practice Leader, and Jason Malatak, Chief Safety Officer at Mosites Construction.
Topics include evaluating your safety program, managing citations and penalties, enforcement trends, safety culture and suicide prevention in construction, plus live Q&A with the panel.
See details and save your seat for the Construction OSHA Roundtable here
If you’d like to take a closer look at the strategies Seubert could implement to help your business Minimize Risk. Maximize Potential. Get in touch today!
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