How long should inspection records typically be retained, and who can access them?

• A. Retention is per ATO policy (often several years); records should be securely stored and accessible to authorized staff only.
• B. Retention is at the discretion of the inspector.
• C. Records are publicly accessible.
• D. Records are discarded after 6 months.

Answer: (A)

Records from inspections are kept according to the agency’s retention policy, which specifies how long you must hold them and who can access them. This duration is typically several years to support audits, investigations, and the ability to reference past actions. Access should be restricted to authorized staff only, with secure storage—whether physical or digital—to protect sensitive information and privacy. This policy-driven approach ensures consistency and legal compliance, rather than leaving retention up to individual inspectors, and records are not made public or discarded after a short period like six months.