On April 1, 2024, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized a rule expanding the parameters for who can accompany an OSHA job-site inspector during inspections. Specifically, at the request of an employee, an OSHA inspector may allow an individual access to the job site if the inspector deems it “reasonably necessary”. Further details are available on OSHA’s website. The rule is set to take effect on May 31, 2024.
ARTBA filed comments on the rule on November 13, 2023, both individually and as part of a broader industry coalition. ARTBA’s comments emphasized that OSHA had not adequately demonstrated the necessity of the rule and cautioned against potential unintended negative consequences that could detract from the inspection’s primary purpose. Despite substantial feedback urging OSHA not to proceed with the rulemaking, the agency not only finalized the rule, but expanded the pool of individuals eligible to accompany inspectors, disregarding any industry comments on the mater.
