Press Release
Salt Lake City – The Utah Labor Commission is warning employers in the state to avoid falling victim to individuals who claim to be “OSHA inspectors” as a ruse to sell required federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration posters to comply with OSHA regulations.
These solicitors contact Utah businesses by phone, letter or personal visit and claim to be OSHA compliance officers. They threaten employers with inspections, citations and monetary fines if they don’t immediately pay for health and safety training, consultation services and the “Consolidated State and Federal” posters to become “compliant.”
Such posters are required to be placed in a visible location at a business, but they are available for free from the Utah Labor Commission.
Compliance officers from the Utah Labor Commission who enforce occupational safety and health regulations in Utah present identification during visits to employers and never ask for money, even if a citation and penalty are issued to an employer following an inspection.
“If credentials are not presented, the business should ask to see them,” said Cameron Ruppe, Director of Utah Occupational Safety and Health (UOSH). “If a business owner has any questions about the validity of someone’s credentials, they should call the UOSH office at (801) 530-6900 to verify.”
Businesses that receive suspicious or threatening letters, visits, calls or other contacts from someone claiming to sell the required workplace posters should contact the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Consumer Protection, at (801) 530-6602, toll-free 1-800-721-SAFE (7233).
Required posters can be downloaded at laborcommission.utah.gov or obtained by calling (801) 530-6800.