This audio conference was recorded on Wednesday - July 8, 2009
1:30 to 3:00 p.m. (EST), 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (PST)

Credits:

This audio conference qualifies for Continuance of Certification (COC) credit. CSPs will earn 0.05 COC points for attending this audio conference.

Description:

You’ve been cited for a violation by OSHA. Since it’s only a few hundred dollars, you figure you’ll just pay the penalty rather than spend time and money on defending your case. But by paying the fine, you are essentially admitting to wrongdoing. This could land you on the hook for future violations and even criminal prosecution if there is an accident or high frequency of recurrence.

Appealing citations should be your first plan of attack when faced with an OSHA violation. It’s important to look beyond the short term and understand that once you pay the fine, you can’t challenge the penalty—you own it for up to 3 years. Instead, deploy a sensible appeals strategy to protect you both now and in the future.

Oder this in-depth audio conference recording on how to make good business decisions when it comes to appealing OSHA citations—and bring your managers along.

Speaker(s):

Todd Hunt, Esq., is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Seyfarth Shaw, LLP. He is thoroughly experienced in all aspects of civil litigation and OSHA appeal proceedings, from early evaluation and investigation through trial, in the areas of trade secrets (prosecution and defense), safety, product liability, ADA Title III access, and commercial and government contract matters.

Hunt’s engineering and information systems background, as well as his extensive representation of manufacturers, provides him with valuable insight into the design, application, and protection of technologies and the application of available legal protections and defenses to them. He frequently advises employers concerning their internal safety programs and represents them in appeals of Cal/OSHA citations and penalties resulting from workplace injuries and fatalities and complaints.

Hunt has successfully represented technology companies, media companies, hospitality entities, retail establishments, food processing facilities, industrial factories, chemical companies, warehousing facilities, recycling entities, and outdoor advertising companies in numerous trials, appeals, and hearings.

You and your colleagues will learn:

• How OSHA citation history is used as an indicator of safety performance
• Why appealing OSHA citations is generally good business practice, and how to determine the best course of action
• OSHA inspection priorities
• How you should interact with the OSHA inspector
• The data and documentation you need to collect to appeal an OSHA citation
• The steps to contest an OSHA citation
• Ways to resolve or settle the OSHA violation
• How to prevent recurring violations by updating your safety program and addressing the issues you were cited for