Who normally issues an OSHA citation?

An OSHA citation is normally issued by the OSHA Area Director. The Area Director is responsible for overseeing OSHA compliance inspections within their jurisdiction and has the authority to issue citations when violations of health and safety regulations are identified during inspections. This includes determining the nature of any violations, the appropriate penalties, and ensuring that necessary corrective actions are taken.

In this context, while local safety officers may conduct safety inspections and enforce safety practices within an organization, they do not have the authority to issue OSHA citations. Similarly, a business owner may have a role in maintaining workplace safety, but they do not have the regulatory power to issue citations under OSHA. Employee representatives can advocate for safety concerns but also do not have the authority to issue OSHA citations. Therefore, the OSHA Area Director is uniquely positioned within the framework of OSHA to formally issue citations based on inspection findings.