After OSHA completes an inspection, they generally have six months from that time to issue an employer citations for violations of OSHA standards. An employer who receives an OSHA citation may take either of the following courses of action:

• If the employer agrees to the Citation and Notification of Penalty, the employer must correct the condition by the date set in the citation and pay the penalty, if one is proposed. If the employer fails to pay the penalty on time, OSHA may use reminder and demand letters, put late employers on debtor lists, threaten extra charges for delinquency, or refer debts to the Treasury or Justice Departments.
• If the employer does not agree with the Citation and Notification of Penalty, the employer has 15 working days from the date of receiving the citation to contest in writing any or all of the following: citation, proposed penalty, and/or abatement date.