authorities investigate several incidents of a man allegedly impersonating a
Cal/OSHA inspector and seeking cash in lieu of citing establishments, the
agency advises employers not to fall for such scams.
A Cal/OSHA inspector will never request payment in lieu of citations or ask
for money onsite, says DOSH Acting Chief Len Welsh.
"If an inspector ever requests payment on site for any reason, employers are
urged to call Cal/OSHA headquarters immediately at 510-286-7000," DOSH says.
The Division will then contact local authorities.
Cal/OSHA's inspection protocol is as follows:
a.. The inspector identifies himself of herself and asks permission to
conduct the inspection. Employers are legally entitled to deny the inspector
entry. Cal/OSHA then would seek a court warrant.
b.. After receiving permission to proceed, the inspector discusses with
the employer his or her rights and responsibilities during the inspection,
as well as what happens during the process.
c.. The inspector walks through and reviews the premises and interviews
employees.
d.. The inspection concludes with a discussion of the hazards that were
found, whether citations will be issued and the subsequent process.
e.. Cal/OSHA rarely issues citations on site and it is never proper for an
investigator to request any kind of payment during the inspection.