OSHA adjusts civil penalty amounts for 2018

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announces that the civil penalty amounts for violations of workplace safety and health standards have been increased by two percent from last year. The penalties have been adjusted for inflation as of Jan. 2, 2018.

In accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, the Department of Labor is required to adjust penalties for inflation each year. The penalties are based on the magnitude of the infraction. New penalties for willful and repeat violations are $129,336 per violation; serious, other-than-serious, and posting requirement violations are $12,934 per violation; and failure to correct violations are $12,934 for each day the condition continues.

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

For more information, contact the regional or area office nearest you.