How to handle a surprise OSHA inspection: a legal background and guide for the dentist-employer

The purpose of this paper is to enlighten the dentist-employer of his legal rights and the options and procedures available to him when confronted with an OSHA inspection. Armed with legal precedence regarding OSHA's authority for administrative searches, the dentist-employer can make a knowledgeable decision whether to insist on a valid search warrant as a prerequisite to allowing such an inspection. If and when OSHA does inspect, the dentist will be aware of the constitutional and statutory limits on the scope of the inspection.