US DOL issues Final Rule to Clarify Rights to Employee Representation during OSHA Inspections

 The Occupational Safety and Health Act gives the employer and employees the right to authorize a representative to accompany OSHA officials during a workplace inspection. The final rule clarifies that, consistent with the law, workers may authorize another employee to serve as their representative or select a non-employee. For a non-employee representative to accompany the compliance officer in a workplace, they must be reasonably necessary to conduct an effective and thorough inspection.

 

The rule will be effective May 1, 2024.

 

Source(s): News Release received March 28, 2024; Federal Register, accessed on March 29, 2024 (to be available on April 1, 2024.