OSHA citation deadlines, from the 15 working day contest period to abatement.

1. 1. The day it arrives

   Post the citation

   Post an unedited copy at or near each place a violation was found, or where affected employees will see it. Leave it up until the violation is fixed or for 3 working days, whichever is later. Contesting does not change this.

   29 CFR 1903.16(a) and (b)

2. 2. Within 15 working days of receipt

   Contest, or let the citation become final

   To contest, send the Area Director a written notice of intent to contest, postmarked within 15 working days after the day your company received the citation. Say whether you contest the citation, the proposed penalty, or both. Items you do not contest reach their final order date on the 15th working day.

   29 CFR 1903.17(a) and 1903.19(b)(4)(i)

3. 3. Inside the same 15 working days

   Informal conference

   You can ask OSHA for an informal conference to discuss the citation, the penalties or the abatement dates, and you can bring a lawyer. Asking for one, or holding one, does not pause the 15 working days. If the conference has not settled things by the last day, the contest deadline still applies.

   29 CFR 1903.20

4. 4. The date printed for each item

   Abatement date

   Each citation item has its own date to fix the hazard. A later date can come from an approved petition to modify abatement, an informal settlement, or, for contested items, the Review Commission's final order.

   29 CFR 1903.14(b) and 1903.19(b)(2)

5. 5. Within 10 calendar days after each abatement date

   Abatement certification

   Certify to OSHA in writing that each item is fixed: the date and method of abatement, and a statement that affected employees have been told. Include your name and address, the inspection number, the citation and item numbers, a statement that the information is accurate, and a signature. You can skip this for an item only if the compliance officer saw it fixed within 24 hours during the inspection and noted that on the citation. Mailed letters count from the postmark.

   29 CFR 1903.19(c) and (h)

6. 6. With the certification

   Abatement documentation

   For every willful or repeat item, and for serious items where the citation asks for it, send proof with the certification: photos or video, receipts for equipment bought or repaired, or other written records.

   29 CFR 1903.19(d)

7. 7. Within 25 calendar days of the final order date, if required

   Abatement plan and progress reports

   When an item allows more than 90 days to fix, OSHA can require a written abatement plan, and the citation will say so. Progress reports can also be required; the citation sets their dates, and the first one is no sooner than 30 calendar days after the plan.

   29 CFR 1903.19(e) and (f)

8. 8. Whenever you send OSHA abatement papers

   Tell your employees

   Post a copy or summary of each document you send OSHA near where the violation happened, at the same time or before you send it, and leave it up for 3 working days after you send it. Employees can ask to see the documents, and you have 5 working days to let them.

   29 CFR 1903.19(g)

9. 9. By the end of the next working day after the abatement date

   Petition for modification of abatement (PMA)

   If you tried in good faith but cannot finish by the abatement date for reasons outside your control, such as staff or specialists you cannot get, materials or equipment, or construction that cannot finish in time, file a written petition with the Area Director. List the steps you took and when, how much more time you need and why, and how you are protecting workers meanwhile. Post it for 10 working days. OSHA cannot approve it until 15 working days after it was posted. A late petition needs a statement of exceptional circumstances.

   29 CFR 1903.14a

Source: the text of 29 CFR Part 1903 on eCFR. Employees and their representatives can also challenge an abatement period as unreasonable within the same 15 working days (29 CFR 1903.17(b)).