Receiving an OSHA citation can...

Employers must:

Certify that hazards/violations cited by OSHA during an inspection have been

abated. OSHA has provided examples of simple abatement certification

letters that employers may use to certify that they have abated each cited

hazard. 

Provide abatement documentation, abatement plans, and progress reports for

some violations. 

Inform affected employees and their representatives of the abatement action

the employer has taken.

Allow employees to examine and copy abatement documents sent to OSHA. 

Tag cited movable equipment to warn employees of the hazard. Employers

can use tags of their own design or those that are available through OSHA.

What is abatement?

Abatement is the correction of the safety or health hazard/violation that led to an OSHA

citation.

What is abatement verification?

It is the process by which an employer informs OSHA, affected employees, and their

representatives that a hazard cited by OSHA has been corrected. 

What is the difference between abatement certification and abatement documentation?

Abatement certification is the “affidavit or signed statement” the employer sends to

OSHA. Abatement documentation is the “proof of correction” the employer sends to

OSHA as evidence that the hazard has been corrected, such as pictures or receipts or

work orders.

What does OSHA mean by the phrase “the employer must certify” in the regulation?

Certification means that the employer must submit a brief signed statement that the

hazardous condition(s) have been corrected.

How is abatement certification accomplished?

An employer or an authorized employer representative must inform OSHA in a signed letter of the abatement actions they have taken. 

The letter must include the following identifying information: 

Inspection, citation, and item numbers for each violation. 

Date of abatement. 

A statement that the violation was abated.

A brief description of how the hazardous condition was abated. 

A statement informing OSHA that affected employees and their representatives were informed of the abatement actions. 

A statement that the information provided in the letter is accurate. 

Once a Citation is received a company has specific times periods to accomplish their responsibilities:

For Correcting Violations:

  90 calendar days -- Minimum period to correct a violation before OSHA can

require an abatement plan.

For Sending Documents to OSHA:

  10 Calendar days -- Maximum period after the abatement date to send a

certification document.

  25 calendar days -- Maximum period after receiving a citation to send an

abatement plan.

  55 calendar days -- Maximum period after receiving a citation to send the first

progress report.

For Employee Notice:

  3 working days

Minimum period that abatement-verification documents

have to stay posted.

  3 working days -- Maximum period after posting for employees or their

representatives to request to examine and/or copy the documents.

  5 working days -- Maximum period to provide the documents to employees

or their representatives after they request them.

OSHA violations vary depending on frequency, seriousness and company size. Click here to see the penalties from which an employer can face from a violation.