The Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulates workplace safety.You may want to read OSHA reports if you're interested in the safety of your workplace.You can find summaries of most reports on OSHA's online database.If the summary doesn't give you enough information, you can make a request under the federal Freedom of Information Act.
Step 1: Pick your search parameters.
If you enter more specific search terms, your search results will be more useful.The purpose of your search affects your parameters.If you use more general search terms, you may end up looking through a lot of irrelevant results.You can narrow your range if you don't know details.If you don't know the exact year of the accident, try to narrow it down to a 5-year period.Identifying the OSHA office that would have created the report is one of the easiest ways to narrow down your search.The correct OSHA office can be found at https://www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html.
Step 2: There are reports for deaths and catastrophes.
If you're looking for the most serious OSHA investigations, you can search for them on the website.You can limit your results to deaths.Summaries can only be used for completed investigations.The report summary won't be available online if the accident happened within a year.
Step 3: You can use the Establishment Search to find reports.
The establishment search may be best for you if what happened is less important than where it happened.Remember that companies can change their names over time, so make sure you have the correct legal name of the company.You can find a business's legal name on the website of the secretary of state.
Step 4: OSHA data and statistics can be found here.
The data and statistics page is more useful if you have a broader purpose for getting OSHA reports.You can find the inspection data most relevant to your interests by visiting the page at www.osha.gov/oshstats/index.html.You can find a list of enforcement cases with high penalties in each state.You can use the database to find violations in specific industries.If you were researching the relative safety of related industries or the workplace in a particular industry, this type of search would be useful.This data could be used to compare the enforcement history of a particular workplace to the industry as a whole.
Step 5: You can find your state's enforcement branch.
States have their own workplace rules.State and local government workers are not under OSHA's jurisdiction, so these regulations apply to them.There is a directory of state offices on OSHA's website.Click on your state on the map to find contact information for that office.
Step 6: Information about your request should be gathered.
If you want to get state records, you should give the state office as much information as possible.States don't give OSHA's broader search capabilities.You must refer to specifically identifiable records in your request.You should know the name of the workplace, the time period when the records would have been created and the state office that created them.The names of people who would have been involved can be used to locate the records you need.
Step 7: You can submit an online records request.
You can request records online in many states.They do not have an online database, but you can fill out an electronic request form, which will be forwarded to the appropriate office.The records responding to your search will be sent to you via email attachment if you make your request online.If you're comparing enforcement data across multiple industries, online requests are more suitable.
Step 8: You can request physical records by calling or writing the office.
You can request paper copies of the records by phone or mail.You can make a request in person at the office.You may be able to get the records immediately if you have a very specific request.This applies to records that you have a lot of information about.It will take the office about 10 days to get the records you need.If you want the records mailed to you, you will be able to pick them up.When the records are ready, the office will contact you.
Step 9: If necessary, pay for copies.
Fees are usually not charged for electronic copies.If you want paper copies of records, you may have to pay a fee.The office can tell you how much you owe.If your request requires office staff to work on it, you may be charged for it.If you wanted statistics from reports filed by the office for an entire industry, you may be charged a fee.
Step 10: You should draft your request.
You can submit a request for OSHA reports if they aren't available in online databases.You have to make your request in writing.Provide a description of the reports or records you need, and specify the format in which you want them.Do not send requests for OSHA to analyze data.
Step 11: Find forms or samples.
While you don't have to use a specific form for a request, many nonprofits have created forms and sample letters that you can adapt to your needs.sample-foia-request-letters are available from the National Freedom of Information Coalition.
Step 12: Fees and processing times should be discussed with OSHA.
If you want an estimate on processing time or are concerned about fees, you can call the OSHA National Office.Fees are usually limited to copying records.If OSHA staff spend more than 2 hours searching for records to fulfill your request, you may be charged for that time.You can add a request for a fee waiver to your request if you anticipate significant fees and can't afford them.
Step 13: You can submit your request to the appropriate regional person.
If your request relates to investigations that took place in a specific state or region, a regional coordinators will be able to process it more quickly.The contact information for each of the OSHA FOIA coordinators can be found at www.osha.gov/as/opa/foia.Send requests to OSHA at the U.S. Department of Labor.The address is 200 Constitution Ave., NW in Washington DC.You can email your request to foiarequests@dol.gov.
Step 14: Receive the acknowledgement letter.
The office will acknowledge the receipt of your request in a letter.The letter gives an estimated date when your request will be fulfilled.You can use the unique tracking number in your letter to track the status of your request online.Enter your progress tracking number to find out what OSHA has done.