As part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) rate increase that took effect in August 2016, the agency announced that it would adjust its penalties for inflation each year based on the Consumer Price Index. The new fines will be as follows (pre-2018 fines included for reference):
| Violation Classification | Pre-2018 Fines | New Fines as of 1/2/2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Other than Serious | $12,675 | $12,934 |
| Serious | $12,675 | $12,934 |
| Posting Violation | $12,675 | $12,934 |
| Repeat Violation | $126,749 | $129,336 |
| Willful Violation (minimum) | $9,054 | $9,239 |
| Willful Violation (maximum) | $126,749 | $129,336 |
| Failure to Abate | $12,675/day | $12,934/day |
NIA General Counsel Gary Auman noted, “While these new fines are not a huge increase over prior potential penalties, they do demonstrate that OSHA is in tune with the enabling legislation, The Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015, to adjust its penalty structure by January 15 of each year. Of course, even a minor increase can result in significant penalties in the case of multiple violations.”
Visit the OSHA website for further details.