After the Inspector Leaves

Citations and notices will arrive by certified mail and should be posted at or near the area where the violation occurred for at least 3 days or until abated, whichever is longer. Any notice of contest or objection must be received in writing by the OSHA area director within 15 days of receipt of any citations. The area director will forward the notice of contest to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC). It is also a good idea to request an informal meeting with the area director during the 15-day period. 

The notice of contest will be assigned to an administrative law judge by the OSHRC. Once the judge rules on the contest notice, further review by the OSHRC may be requested. If necessary, the OSHRC ruling can be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals. 

Remember that all citations or violations must be corrected or abated by the prescribed date unless the citation or abatement date is formally contested. If the response to a citation or violation cannot be abated in the time allotted, due to factors that are beyond reasonable control, a petition to modify the time for abatement must be filed with the area director to extend the date. 

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