Washington — In light of the recent shutdown of the federal government, OSHA is giving employers who were issued citations more time to respond.
For citations issued or received from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, the agency is extending the contest period deadline to Dec. 4.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, an employer has 15 “working days” after receiving a citation to:
- Comply with the citation.
- Request an informal conference with OSHA personnel.
- Contest the citation.
However, OSHA points out that because it wasn’t in full operation during the shutdown, the 43-day period doesn’t count toward those “working days.”
“Penalties and citations may be adjusted throughout the course of the case process,” the agency says in a Dec. 2 press release. “Please check the OSHA establishment search page periodically for any changes in the inspection or penalty status.”
OSHA adds that it’s working through the backlog of safety and health complaints that “did not meet criteria for excepted activity (during the shutdown) and, therefore, were not processed upon receipt.”
Interested parties don’t need to resubmit complaints, the agency advises.
