The Documentation Defense: What OSHA Actually Wants to See | Risk Matrix Episode 113

"If you don't document it, it didn't happen." James and Dr. Martin tackle the documentation paradox every safety professional faces. They've always said paper safety isn't real safety - but when OSHA shows up or litigation starts, documentation is how you prove you protected your workers. In this episode, they reveal what separates meaningless paperwork from documentation that actually matters.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro & Government Shutdown Impact on OSHA
01:44 - Documentation vs. Paper Safety: What's the Difference?
07:41 - The #1 Missing Document: PPE Hazard Assessments
08:37 - Training Documentation: Beyond "We Had a Meeting"
11:54 - The 5 Elements of Unpreventable Employee Misconduct Defense
21:34 - Job Site Inspections: Why Perfect Records Are Red Flags
23:20 - Disciplinary Documentation That Actually Holds Up
25:15 - Safety Meetings Are NOT Training
27:54 - Hot Tips: Visual Cues and Double Documentation
30:47 - Wrap Up

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• If you don't document it, it didn't happen - documentation proves you did your job
• The 5 elements of UEM defense require specific documentation at every step
• Training, inspections, and discipline all need proper documentation to hold up

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
What documentation gaps have you discovered? Drop a comment below.

---

About The Risk Matrix Podcast:
Weekly masterclass in risk management from industry titans Dr. Martin (32-year veteran, Board of Global EHS Credentialing Impact Award winner) and James Junkin (trainer of 40,000+ safety professionals, ASSP's 2024 Safety Professional of the Year).

  / james-junkin-ms-csp-msp-smp-asp-csho-494a0046  

  / drmartinsafety  

Every Tuesday: The tough conversations safety managers need to have. Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions.

The Risk Matrix Podcast is powered by Veriforce: Bringing workers home safe from high-hazard jobs. Learn more at www.veriforce.com

Have thoughts on this episode? Follow us on LinkedIn and join the conversation.
  / the-risk-matrix-podcast  

#SafetyDocumentation #OSHACompliance #WorkplaceSafety #SafetyProfessional #RiskManagement #SafetyManagement #RiskMatrixPodcast