Which of the following is NOT a recognized OSHA inspection priority?

• A. Imminent danger
• B. Fatality/Catastrophe
• C. Routine maintenance checks
• D. Complaints and referrals

Answer: (C)

OSHA directs inspections by how urgently a hazard could harm workers. Imminent danger situations require immediate action, fatalities or catastrophes trigger rapid inspections, and employee complaints or referrals prompt investigations. These are the recognized triggers that shape inspection priorities because they focus on the highest risk scenarios and most serious outcomes.

Routine maintenance checks, while important for safety, aren’t a formal inspection-priority trigger. They’re ongoing safety activities that can uncover hazards, but they don’t by themselves establish an inspection priority category. So the option describing routine maintenance checks is not a recognized OSHA inspection priority.