WHY OIG CONDUCTED THE AUDIT
OSHA is responsible for ensuring safe and healthful working conditions for millions of workers nationwide and does so partly by conducting inquiries and inspections of potential hazards. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 and FY 2020, inspections from complaints and referrals were slightly greater than 40 percent of OSHA’s total inspections.
A complainant expressed concern that OSHA may not be adequately considering the statements of complainants and witnesses when responding to complaints and referrals. If OSHA does not adequately consider complainant or witness statements, hazardous conditions may go unidentified and unabated, further endangering workers.
WHAT OIG DID
The OIG contracted with the independent certified public accounting firm of The Lopez Group, LLP (Lopez) to conduct an audit to answer the following question:
To what extent did OSHA ensure complaints and referrals were adequately and timely addressed?
To answer this question, Lopez reviewed 100 complaint and referral cases.
These cases were opened and closed between FY 2019 and FY 2020, 76 were initiated from a complaint, and 70 resulted in an inspection.
WHAT OIG FOUND