OSHA Hikes Penalties for Workplace Violations

OSHA has increased the penalties it charges for workplace violations.

OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations went from $13,494 to $13,653 per violation.

The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations will increase from $134,937 to $136,532 per violation.

The changes are based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor said.

Congress in 2015 passed the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act to increase the effectiveness of civil monetary penalties and maintain their deterrent effect.

The law required agencies to publish “catch-up” rules that adjusted the level of civil monetary penalties, and make subsequent annual adjustments for inflation no later than Jan. 15 of each year.

These changes reflect that adjustment and became effective Jan. 15, the DOL said.

OSHA has more information on maximum penalty amounts, with the annual adjustment for inflation, that the agency may assess.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Phillip Montgomery (860.244.1982).