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After the citation · deadlines, conference, certification, penalties
OSHA citation deadlines
Every date in order, from the 15 working day contest period to abatement certification.
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OSHA informal conference
What to bring, what is usually discussed, and why it does not stop the 15 working day clock.
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Abatement certification letter
What 29 CFR 1903.19 asks for, what counts as proof, and an example letter.
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Lowering an OSHA penalty
The size, good faith and history factors OSHA publishes, and what happens at the informal conference.
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Construction · 29 CFR 1926
Fall Protection
Because the condition is visible, OSHA can document multiple edge, hole, roof, or leading-edge exposures in one walkaround. Employers usually end up managing both field corrections and a strong paper trail for closeout.
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Ladders
OSHA can quickly document extension, condition, securing, and training gaps during routine site observation. In the OSHA citation records we track (issued February 2024 to September 2026), 8,631 items were cited under 1926.1053, and nearly two in three were (b)(1): a ladder that does not reach 3 feet above the landing.
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Scaffolding
Scaffold conditions are visible and change fast, so OSHA often cites access, planking, fall protection, and training gaps together. In the OSHA citation records we track (issued February 2024 to September 2026), 7,071 items were cited under 1926.451, and about one in four was (g)(1), fall protection more than 10 feet up.
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Fall Protection Training
OSHA often pairs a fall protection equipment citation with a training citation when workers cannot explain the system, rescue steps, or hazard-recognition requirements. In the OSHA citation records we track (issued February 2024 to September 2026), 7,852 items were cited under 1926.503. More than half were (a)(1), no training program, and more than a third were (b)(1), no written certification.
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Eye & Face Protection
Grinding, welding, cutting, demolition, and chemical tasks create visible exposure. In the OSHA citation records we track (issued February 2024 to September 2026), 5,548 items were cited under 1926.102, and 98% of them were (a)(1): a worker not wearing eye or face protection.
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General industry · 29 CFR 1910
Hazard Communication (HazCom)
Chemical handling touches many departments, so OSHA often finds gaps in written programs, SDS access, secondary-container labels, and training records during the same inspection. Construction contractors are cited under this same section, because 1926.59 adopts it word for word. In the OSHA citation records we track (issued February 2024 to September 2026), 18,598 items were cited under 1910.1200, 4,459 of them at construction firms, and the written program, (e)(1), was the most common.
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Respiratory Protection
Respirators are often handed out before the supporting program is current. OSHA then finds missing medical records, overdue fit tests, weak program administration, or untracked voluntary use.
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Lockout/Tagout
Facilities with multiple machines often rely on generic procedures or informal practices. OSHA then finds missing procedure detail, skipped annual audits, and training records that do not match the equipment actually serviced.
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Powered Industrial Trucks
Forklift programs break when operators change, evaluations are not documented, or pre-shift checks are handled informally. OSHA can usually see those gaps quickly from interviews, records, and truck condition.
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Machine Guarding
Guarding issues are visible, and OSHA can document multiple machines in one visit. The follow-up work usually includes hardware correction, before-and-after proof, and lockout coordination.
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