U.S. OSHA recently released its new Field Operations Manual (“Manual”). The Manual is the field guidance that directs the work of OSHA’s Compliance, Safety & Health Officers (“CSHOs”) commonly referred to as “OSHA inspectors.” OSHA makes the Manual publicly available so that the regulated community can understand the guidelines governing inspectors’ actions at their worksites.

The new Manual, like its 2011 predecessor, provides enforcement policies and procedures and ensures that federal inspectors uniformly enforce occupational safety and health standards. The new Manual increases OSHA’s penalty authority, grants inspectors greater discretion, and includes additional revisions that will further impact industry. Regulated companies should be familiar with the new Manual in order to be better prepared during OSHA inspections.