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Knight eventually pleaded guilty to criminal charges for creating false identification documents and impersonating a federal official and was sentenced to 57 months in prison.
Do you know how to spot a fake OSHA inspector? Here are some tips.
Spotting a Fake
When an OSHA compliance officer visits a business, the officer will always immediately display his or her credentials—a formal identification (ID) much like a police officer’s ID. But how many OSHA IDs have you seen? Here are some other clues you can look for that will let you know you’re dealing with an impersonator:
- An impersonator will issue citations on the spot. OSHA compliance officers never issue citations in the field.
- An impersonator will ask for payment on the spot. Again, OSHA inspectors do not assess fines in the field. Someone who offers you a “break” on fines if you will pay up front is a fraud.
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- An impersonator will try to sell you goods or services. Impersonators often try to sell employers compliance products directly—for example, OSHA posters, which are freely available from OSHA, or training services, which are not provided by OSHA inspectors.
- An impersonator won’t want you to call your local OSHA office. A call to your local office will reveal fraud—and won’t bother a genuine inspector.
Register now to learn how to develop an effective near-miss reporting program to reduce the risk of serious injuries at your facility.
What to Do
If you believe someone claiming to be an OSHA inspector or compliance officer is a fake, you should:
- Call the police immediately.
- Contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
- Contact OSHA at 800-321-OSHA.
So, what should you do? As always, it depends on your situation. We suspect that most organizations will let the inspector in, but it may someday help to know you don’t have to.
Learn even more ways to protect yourself and your employer at Safety.BLR.com®. Safety.BLR.com®.
This article is well written and contains excellent advice. I directed OSHA operations in West Texas and New Mexico for many years.Almost every year, we received reports of fraudulent OSHA inspectors. In some cases, these “inspectors” performed a complete walk-around and then tried to either sell a product or collect the penalty! Always feel free to call the OSHA Area Office and ask questions about the Compliance Officer , reason for the visit, etc. OSHA will not discriminate against you because of your call. BTW, always look up OSHA’s number in the phone book or your cell phone. Don’t use the number on the “inspector’s” card if you suspect fraud.