If an inspection is refused, the area director shall notify which official?

• A. Assistant Area Director
• B. Regional Solicitor
• C. OSHA Administrator
• D. Local District Attorney

Answer: (B)

When an inspection is refused, the enforcement process moves into the agency’s legal side within the region. The Area Director must notify the Regional Solicitor. The Regional Solicitor handles OSHA’s legal actions in that region—coordination with the courts, pursuing enforcement, and handling matters like warrants or penalties arising from obstructed inspections. This is the appropriate channel because it ensures that any legal steps are taken by the agency’s designated legal representative. The other options aren’t equipped for this role: the Assistant Area Director is a management position, not the legal authority; the OSHA Administrator is the top administrator and isn’t the immediate point of contact for a refused inspection; and a Local District Attorney operates at the state/local level, not within the federal OSHA enforcement framework.