Compliance

Division Services

Who We Are

The UOSH Compliance section is dedicated to improving safety and health in the workplace through enforcement of standards and regulations promulgated under the Utah Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. Enforcement of these standards and regulations is accomplished through worksite inspections conducted by well-trained compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) whose goal is to assure compliance with UOSH requirements and to help reduce on-the-job hazards.

Four Main Reasons For A Workplace Inspection

Reason #1 | Imminent Danger

Hazards that could cause immediate death or serious physical harm to an employee are considered imminent danger and receive top inspection priority. Anyone may report an imminent danger situation to UOSH.

Reason #2 | Accidents

Any work-related fatality; disabling, serious, or significant injury (see examples below); or occupational disease incident.

Examples of a disabling, serious or significant injury include, but are not limited to, amputation, fracture, deep laceration, severe burn (thermal, chemical, etc.), electrical burn, sight impairment, loss of consciousness and concussion.

Reason #3 | Complaints/Referrals

Employees or their representatives submit a formal complaint alleging serious hazards in the workplace
Other agencies reporting observed hazards in the workplace

Reason #4 | Programmed Inspections

Emphasis Programs focusing on a particular hazard found in the workplace
Emphasis Programs focusing on a particular occupation known to have high hazards and high rates of injuries
The inspection will be conducted by a UOSH Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO).

Report an Accident or Unsafe Working Conditions

Call (801) 530-6901:

To report an imminent danger situation.
Within 8 hours of occurrence of any work-related fatality, of any disabling, serious, or significant injury and of any occupational disease incident.
If there is no answer, please leave a message and you will be contacted during business hours.

What is a disabling, serious, or significant injury?

Any injury resulting in admittance to the hospital or impairment (permanent or temporary) where function of any part of the body is substantially reduced or made useless and which would require treatment by a physician or other licensed health care professional. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

Amputation
Fracture
Deep laceration
Severe burn (thermal, chemical, etc.)
Electrical burn
Sight impairment
Loss of consciousness
Concussion

File a Safety and Health Complaint

To report a hazardous condition at a workplace, please use our online form or download the Safety and Health Complaint Form and submit it.

Whistleblower Protection

UOSH investigates alleged retaliatory actions taken by employers against employees who engage in activities protected under Section 34A-6-203 of the Utah OSH Act.

The Utah OSH Act protects employees from retaliation by their employer because such employee:

Files a complaint or institutes or causes to be instituted a proceeding under or related to the Utah OSH Act;
Testifies or is about to testify in any proceeding under or related to the Utah OSH Act; or
Exercises a right granted by the Utah OSH Act on behalf of the employee or others.

UOSH Inspection Procedures

1. Opening Conference

All inspections begin with an Opening Conference. During the opening conference the Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO) will discuss the reason for the inspection, and the scope of the inspection (Comprehensive, or Limited). The employer will be asked to provide OSHA Injury and Illness Logs (if required), training documentation, written programs, and other documentation required by a regulation.

2. Walk Around

The CSHO will conduct the inspection according to the scope of the inspection. A comprehensive inspection is a thorough inspection of all potentially hazardous areas of the establishment. A limited inspection is limited to certain potentially hazardous areas, operations, conditions or practices at the establishment.

3. Interviews

The CSHO will conduct private interviews with employees to assist in the completion of the inspection.

4. Closing Conference

At the completion of the inspection the CSHO will hold a closing conference to discuss the results of the inspection. This will include any violations that were found during the inspection, the citations that will be issued, the employer’s rights and responsibilities, and the length of time the employer has to abate all serious hazards.

5. Issuance of Citations

A citation packet will be sent to the employer. The citation will include the employer’s rights and responsibilities, which standards were violated, the monetary penalty, abatement requirements, and the certificate of abatement.

Employers Rights and Responsibilities Following a UOSH Inspection

1. Post Citation

The citation must be posted immediately in a prominent place at or near the location of the violation. The citation must remain posted until the violation has been abated or three working days, whichever is longer.

2. Informal Conference

An employer may request an informal conference to present any evidence or views which you believe would support an adjustment to the citation(s) or penalty(ies). This request must be within 30 calendar days after receipt of the citation packet.

3. Formal Contest

Written notification of a formal contestment of the citation(s), penalty(ies), or abatement dates. This notification must be sent to the Utah Labor Commission Adjudication Division within 30 days of receipt of the citation packet.

4. Abatement

All cited hazards must be corrected, and the certification of abatement, must be returned to UOSH by the due date listed in the citation. Petition for Modification of Abatement (PMA)

5. Modification of Abatement Form

To request an extension of the abatement dates, download the Petition for Modification of Abatement at the bottom of this page and send it to UOSH prior to the abatement due date listed in the citation.

6. Compliance Assistance

A Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) is available to provide outreach for your group free of charge. The CAS can provide general information on workplace safety and health, UOSH Local Emphasis Programs, how to comply with workplace safety and health regulations, newly adopted federal and state standards, injury and illness statistics, and many other safety and health topics. Contact our CAS at (801) 530-6901.

7. Voluntary Protection Program

The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) promotes effective worksite-based safety and health. In the VPP, management, labor, and Utah Occupational Safety and Health (UOSH) establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system. Approval into VPP is UOSH’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health. For more information please contact us at (801) 530-6901.