OSHA Field Operations Manual (FOM)
The Field Operations Manual (FOM) is a reference document that provides current information and guidance to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) national, regional, and area offices concerning OSHA’s policy and procedures for enforcement matters including conducting inspections, issuing citations, and proposing penalties for OSHA field offices and State Plan States. The FOM is designed to be updated on a regular basis by amending chapters or sections thereof to embody modifications and clarifications to OSHA’s general enforcement policies and procedures.
- Chapter 1. Introduction
- Chapter 2. Program Planning
- Chapter 3. Inspection Procedures
- Chapter 4. Violations
- Chapter 5. Case File Preparation and Documentation
- Chapter 6. Penalties and Debt Collection
- Chapter 7. Post-Citation Procedures and Abatement Verification
- Chapter 8. Settlements
- Chapter 9. Complaint and Referral Processing
- Chapter 10. Industry Sectors
- Chapter 11. Imminent Danger, Fatality, Catastrophe, and Emergency Response
- Chapter 12. Specialized Inspection Procedures
- Chapter 13. Federal Agency Field Activities
- Chapter 14. Health Inspection Enforcement Policy
- Chapter 15. Legal Issues
- Chapter 16. Disclosure Under the Freedeom of Information Act (FOIA)
- Chapter 17. Preemption By Other Agencies
CHAPTER 4. VIOLATIONS
- BASIS OF VIOLATIONS
- SERIOUS OF VIOLATIONS
- GENERAL DUTY REQUIREMENTS
- OTHER-THAN-SERIOUS VIOLATIONS
- WILLFUL VIOLATIONS
- CRIMINAL/WILLFUL VIOLATIONS
- Repeated Violations
- DE MINIMIS VIOLATIONS
- CITING IN THE ALTERNATIVE
- COMBINING AND GROUPING VIOLATIONS
- HEALTH STANDARD VIOLATIONS
- VIOLATIONS OF THE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION STANDARD
- VIOLATIONS OF AIR CONTAMINANT STANDARDS
- CITING IMPROPER PERSONAL HYGIENE PRACTICES
- BIOLOGICAL MONITORING
CHAPTER 5. CASE FILE PREPARATION AND DOCUMENTATION
- INTRODUCTION
- INSPECTION CONDUCTED, CITATIONS BEING ISSUED
- INSPECTION CONDUCTED BUT NO CITATION ISSUED
- NO INSPECTION
- HEALTH INSPECTION
- AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES
- INTERVIEW STATEMENTS
- PAPERWORK AND WRITTEN PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- GUIDELINES FOR CASE FILE DOCUMENTATION FOR USE WITH VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDINGS
- CASE FILE ACTIVITY DIARY SHEET
- CITATIONS
- INSPECTION RECORDS
CHAPTER 6. PENALTIES AND DEBT COLLECTION
- GENERAL PENALTY POLICY
- CIVIL PENALTIES
- PENALTY FACTORS
- EFFECT ON PENALTIES IF EMPLOYER IMMEDIATELY CORRECTS
- REPEATED VIOLATIONS
- WILLFUL VIOLATIONS
- PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO ABATE
- VIOLATION-BY-VIOLATION (EGREGIOUS) PENALTY POLICY
- ENFORCEMENT
- PENALTY AND CITATION FOR PARTS 1903 AND 1904 REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
- FAILURE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO MEDICAL AND EXPOSURE RECORDS
- CRIMINAL PENALTIES
- HANDLING MONIES RECEIVED FROM EMPLOYERS
- DEBT COLLECTION PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 7: POST-CITATION PROCEDURES AND ABATEMENT VERIFICATION
- Contesting Citations, Notifications of Penalty and Abatement Dates
- Informal Conferences
- Petition for Modification of Abatement Date (PMA)
- OSHA's Abatement Verification Regulation, §1903.19
- Abatement Certification
- Abatement Documentation
- Monitoring Information for Abatement Periods Greater than 90 Days
- Employer Failure to Submit Required Abatement Certification
- Tagging for Movable Equipment
- Failure to Notify Employees by Posting
- Abatement Verification for Special Enforcement Situations
- On-Site Visits: Procedures for Abatement Verification and Monitoring
- Monitoring Inspections
- Notification of Failure to Abate
- Case File Management
- Abatement Services Available to Employers
CHAPTER 13. FEDERAL AGENCY FIELD ACTIVITIES
- Introduction
- Coverage of Federal Agencies under 29 CFR Part 1960
- Federal Agency Inspection Scheduling
- Federal Agency Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements
- Access to Federal Employee Occupational Safety and Health-Related Records
- Evaluations of Federal Agency Programs
- Agency Technical Assistance Request (ATAR)
- Notice(s) of Unsafe or Unhealthful Working Conditions
APPENDIX A: (Regional or National) Office Notice of Appeal
APPENDIX B: Certificate of Posting Notice of Appeal
APPENDIX C: INFORMAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
CHAPTER 15. LEGAL ISSUES
- Administrative Subpoenas
- Service of Subpoena on OSHA Personnel
- Obtaining Warrants
- Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA)
- Notice of Contest
- Late Notice of Contest
- Contested Case Processing Procedures
- Communications while Proceedings are Pending before the Commission
- Commission Procedures
- Discovery Methods
- Testifying in Hearings
- Commission Simplified Proceedings
- Citation Final Order Dates
- Federal Court Enforcement under Section 11(b) of the OSH Act
APPENDIX A: Subpoena Duces Tecum
APPENDIX B: Subpoena Ad Testificandum
CHAPTER 16. DISCLOSURE UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)
- Scope of Chapter and Information Requests
- FOIA Fees
- Processing FOIA Requests
APPENDIX A: List of FOIA Exemptions
APPENDIX B: General Guidance on Fees
APPENDIX C: Sharing Letter
APPENDIX D: Executive Order 12600 Sample Letter
APPENDIX E: Sample FOIA Determination Letter
APPENDIX F: Sample FOIA Determination Letter for Open Investigation or Open Enforcement Matter