OSHA PENALTIES INCREASE August 1, 2016

Written by: Don Benson, Esq.

Congress enacted legislation in November of 2015 requiring federal agencies to adjust their civil penalties to account for inflation.

OSHA’s maximum penalties were last adjusted in 1990. The new penalties will increase by 78%.

Effective August 1, 2016, any citations issued by OSHA     after that date will be subject to the new penalties if the alleged violations occurred after November 2, 2015.

The penalties will be adjusted for inflation annually based on the Consumer Price Index.

State OSH Agencies are required to adopt penalties that are at least as effective [i.e. costly] as the new federal maximum penalties.