How to Ace an Inspection Like a Pro

Alright, let’s be real—every company has to deal with a parade of outside inspectors. We’re talking folks from the insurance company, fire department, government safety agencies like OSHA, and even the higher-ups from corporate HQ. These inspectors? They’ve got some serious power. They can hit you with fines, jack up your insurance rates, or even shut you down if things don’t look right.

As the safety manager, your mission is clear: make sure your location shines and keep any negative fallout from inspections to a minimum. The trick? Remember that these inspectors are just people—people who can be influenced by how you treat them.

Here’s the deal: if you rub an inspector the wrong way, it could come back to bite you. I learned this the hard way during my time at the OSHA Training Institute. They drilled it into us—if a company pushes back too hard on an inspection, we were told to grab a search warrant and give them the most intense inspection of their lives. Trust me, you don’t want to go there.

On the flip side, when I was working as an inspector, I found that a little kindness went a long way. Treat me right, and I was much more likely to cut a company some slack. It’s just human nature.

So, how do you get on an inspector’s good side? Here are some quick and easy tips to make sure they walk away with a good impression:

• Roll Out the Red Carpet: If you know they’re coming, put their name and title on your welcome board in the lobby. It’s a small touch, but it shows respect.
• First Impressions Matter: Smile, shake their hand, and offer them their favorite drink as soon as they walk in. Start the meeting off on the right foot.
• Clean House: A spotless work environment speaks volumes. Make sure your plant is clean and tidy—get the team to spruce up while the inspector is in the front office.
• Show You Care: Convince the inspector that safety is a top priority. Introduce them to the head honcho at your location and let them hear it straight from the boss’s mouth.
• Give Credit Where It’s Due: If you’ve worked with others from their organization before, throw in a compliment. It builds goodwill.
• Highlight the Wins: During the inspection, don’t be shy about pointing out recent safety improvements.
• Play It Smart: Steer clear of areas where you know there might be issues. No need to give them a reason to dig deeper.
• Be Gracious: Thank them for any advice or recommendations, even if you don’t agree. If you have a different approach, calmly explain what you’ve done to address the hazard.
• End on a High Note: Before they leave, thank them for their time and reassure them that you’ll follow up on their recommendations ASAP.

With these tips in your back pocket, you’ll be ready to turn those inspections into opportunities for positive feedback instead of stress-inducing nightmares. Happy inspecting!