Who issues citations and penalties after an OSHA inspection?

• A. The CSHO
• B. OSHA Area Director
• C. The Employer
• D. A Judge

Answer: (B)

The key idea is understanding who has the formal authority to issue the enforcement documents after an OSHA inspection. While a Compliance Safety and Health Officer conducts the inspection and prepares findings, the formal citation and any penalties are issued by the OSHA field office’s Area Director. The Area Director reviews the inspection results, approves the citations, and sets the proposed penalty amounts in the Notice of Citations and Penalties. If the employer wants to challenge the penalties, the case proceeds to a hearing before an OSHRC judge, but the initial issuance of citations and penalties comes from the Area Director.