Industry Must-Read
Written by Trent Cotney, an industry expert on construction law and litigation, the OSHA Defense for the Construction Industry is an essential guide for anyone navigating the growing risks of OSHA enforcement. For contractors, trades, design professionals, suppliers, and manufacturers, a single inspection can lead to costly citations, project disruption, reputational damage, and substantial penalties.
This book provides a practical roadmap for understanding employer rights during an OSHA inspection and building effective defenses after a citation is issued. It covers safety compliance, recordkeeping and reporting, witness statements, social media exposure, constitutional protections, settlements, repeat and willful citations, and core defenses such as unpreventable employee misconduct, the multi-employer worksite defense, and greater hazard.
It also addresses current enforcement trends and major regulatory developments, including rising penalties and OSHA’s increasing use of drones and digital evidence in inspections. Written for real-world construction operations, this book helps readers respond with confidence, limit exposure, and protect their business.
This edition has been substantially reworked and updated to address the most important developments shaping OSHA enforcement today. It includes new and expanded discussions of OSHA’s regulatory agenda under the Trump Administration, the changing landscape of the multi-employer doctrine, the end of Chevron deference and its impact on OSHA enforcement, the Severe Violator Enforcement Program, OSHA press releases and reputational risk management, and the growing role of digital evidence, social media, AI, and drone usage in inspections.
For contractors, employers, and construction industry professionals, this edition is designed to provide practical guidance on navigating a more complex and increasingly technology-driven enforcement environment.
