"What's That Buzzing Overhead?" Don't Get Stung by an OSHA Safety Inspection Drone

This article was published in the September edition of the On the Front Lines Newsletter by Chantell C. Foley and Todd B. Logsdon in Louisville.

In a memorandum released last year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (or OSHA) announced that inspectors can now use drones to collect evidence. In order to not be surprised by one of these inspections, it is a good idea to prepare a response strategy just as you would for any other OSHA inspection. You should also know that OSHA cannot initiate a drone inspection without employer consent, and you may be able to limit inspections to exclude the use of a drone. To quote from this article’s conclusion: “You should educate your organization on these new developments to ensure your key personnel at least know enough to prepare for future OSHA drone inspections.”