Short answer: expect an opening conference, a walkaround inspection, photographs or measurements, confidential employee interviews, document requests, and a closing conference or later follow-up. Designate one employer representative, verify the inspector's credentials, understand the inspection's stated scope, accompany the walkaround, keep a matching record of what is seen and requested, and answer accurately.
Ask to see identification and notify the person who handles workplace safety. The employer representative should attend the opening conference and accompany the inspector during the walkaround.
Ask what prompted the visit and which work areas, conditions, and records are within scope. Identify any immediate operating or safety concern the inspector raises.
Note the areas visited, people contacted, photographs taken, measurements made, and documents requested. Where appropriate, take matching photographs from the employer's perspective without interfering.
Cal/OSHA may interview employees privately. Do not coach employees, discourage cooperation, or retaliate. Make supervisors and records custodians available when requested.
Gather the written prevention plan, employee-involvement records, training records, violent incident log, hazard evaluations and corrections, investigation records, and dated plan reviews. Keep originals intact and provide controlled copies.
Use a simple production index: request, person responsible, date requested, document supplied, and date supplied. Preserve correspondence and confirm important follow-up in writing.
Do not wait for a citation to fix an actual hazard. Record what changed, when, and who verified it, while preserving the original condition in the inspection file.
Write down preliminary findings, requested follow-up, and expected next steps. Preliminary comments are not the same as a final citation.
Received a complaint-investigation letter instead of a visit? Follow the letter exactly. Cal/OSHA's complaint process generally gives the employer 14 days to investigate, respond in writing, describe corrective action, and post the response for employees.
Cal/OSHA's guide to opening conferences, walkarounds, interviews, document review, and closing conferences.
The state's explanation of on-site inspections and complaint investigations by letter.
The plan, training, log, investigation, correction, and access records inspectors may examine.