difference between inspection and observation

Source excerpt

## II. Inspection Scope Inspections, either programmed or unprogrammed, fall into one of two categories depending on the scope of the inspection: ## A. Comprehensive A comprehensive inspection is a substantially complete and thorough inspection of all potentially hazardous areas of the establishment. An inspection may be deemed comprehensive even though, as a result of professional judgment, not all potentially hazardous conditions or practices within those areas are inspected. ## B. Partial A partial inspection is one whose scope is limited to certain potentially hazardous areas, operations, conditions or practices at the establishment. - 1. Generally, unprogrammed inspections (i.e., inspections resulting from an employee complaint, referral, reported accident or incident, etc.) will be conducted as partial inspections. The scope of the partial inspection should be limited to the specific work areas, operations, conditions, or practices forming the basis of the unprogrammed inspection. - 2. A partial inspection can be expanded based on information gathered by the CSHO during the inspection process, including from injury and illness records found in both OSHA forms 300 and 301, employee interviews and plain view observations. The CSHO should not expand a partial inspection based on 300 data alone. - 3. CSHOs shall consult established written guidelines and criteria, such as UOSH policies and LEPs, in conjunction with information gathered during the records or program review and walkaround inspection, to determine whether expanding the scope of an inspection is warranted. - 4. Generally, in a low-hazard industry the inspection shall be limited to the inspection/investigation. If, however, the CSHO believes the scope of the inspection should be expanded because of information indicating the likelihood of serious hazards in other portions of the plant, the Compliance Operations Manager or designee shall be contacted. Reasons for expansion may include; the CS…