Complete Story
01/16/2024
OSHA Penalties Automatically Increase, Putting Pressure on Employers
Source: Fisher Phillips, January 12, 2024
Employers should be aware of higher penalties for workplace safety violations that the U.S. Department of Labor has just published. These are the yearly increases to the maximum civil penalties that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) may assess through citations against employers as a result of workplace safety and health inspections. The penalties will apply to all citations issued by OSHA beginning January 16, including for employers who currently have an open inspection with the agency. Here are the key changes you need to know about.
Summary of Penalties
The following is a summary of the maximum and minimum penalties that may be assessed by OSHA as of January 16:
Serious Violations
- Penalty minimum: $1,190 per violation
- Penalty maximum: $16,131 per violation
Other-Than-Serious Violations
- Penalty minimum: $0
- Penalty maximum: $16,131 per violation
Willful or Repeated Violations
- Penalty minimum: $11,524 per violation (except that for a repeated other-than-serious violation that otherwise would have no initial penalty, a Gravity Based Penalty of $460 shall be proposed for the first repeated violation, $1,152 for the second repeated violation, and $2,304 for a third repetition)
- Penalty maximum: $161,323 per violation
Again, these penalties will apply to all citations issued by OSHA beginning January 16, including for employers who currently have an open inspection with OSHA.
Are you curious what OSHA would say about your company if they were to stop in for an audit? Gary Hanson with American Safety & Health can answer that for you with a complimentary on-site safety evaluation!
American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc. works in partnership with Association members to provide the best services available. This includes providing complimentary on-site safety evaluations for members, along with a one time plant safety inspection for member companies. They will evaluate your present program using a Safety Performance Audit and work with you on each area to ensure effective implementation.
ASH helps identify OSHA violations that could potentially cost hefty fines and assist members in the development, implementation and management of employee safety training programs.
