Penalties for OSHA Fines Will Increase Aug. 1

On Aug. 1, monetary penalties issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for regulation infractions are slated to rise by up to 150% depending on the type of violation.

Last fall, the president signed a budget bill that allowed the agency to enact a catch-up adjustment and raise fines annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

This marks the first time in 25 years that OSHA fines have gone up. Previously, OSHA was one of few federal agencies with civil penalties that do not increase with inflation.

OSHA intends to provide guidance on the implementation of the new penalties by Aug. 1. Additionally, to address the impact they may have on small businesses, the agency plans to continue providing penalty reductions based on employer size and other factors.

States that operate their own Occupational Safety and Health Plans are required to adopt maximum penalty levels that are at least as effective as federal OSHA’s.

For more information about the budget deal or OSHA provision, please contact Alex Strong orRob Matuga.