OSHA Penalties Are Increasing In August

Now is the time to make sure your company and employees are OSHA compliant.  OSHA fines will be significantly increasing come August 1, 2016.

In November of 2015, Congress passed the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which allows agencies to increase fines due to inflation.  This law provides agencies to consider inflation dating from the last time adjustments were made, which was in 1990.   However, Congress states that the increase shall not exceed 150% of the existing penalty amount.  Additionally, agencies will now be able to increase fines each year according the rise of the Consumer Price Index.

Read More About How Annual Safety Training Can Help You And Your Workers

How Does This Affect Industry?Rising_Prices_000019541083XSmall

Given the new law, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be increasing their penalties by 78% and will adjust the amount for inflation each year based on the Consumer Price Index.  See the Quick Reference Chart below, or visit OSHA online.

Know The Top Ten Most Cited OSHA Standards

Type of Violation  Current Maximum Penalty New Maximum Penalty
Serious
Other-Than-Serious
Posting Requirements
$7,000 per violation $12,471 per violation
Failure to Abate $7,000 per day beyond the abatement date $12,471 per day beyond the abatement date
Willful or Repeated $70,000 per violation $124,709 per violation

What about other agencies?

The Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) will be increasing their penalty amount for failure to report termination of payments from $110 to $275.  This regulation stems from the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will be increasing their penalty for willful violations of minimum wage and overtime provisions from $1,100 to $1,894.  The Fair Labor Standards Act contains the provisions.

Click Here To See EPA Fine Increases 

If you are concerned about OSHA compliance within your facility or company, contact a SRP Safety Consultant.  SRP  provides safety and compliance audits, OSHA mandated safety training, safety program development and safety management services.   Call SRP Today at (318) 222-2364 or visit us online to schedule a consultation.   We have seven convenient locations in Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Honolulu, Midland, Shreveport and Pittsburgh.  Located elsewhere?  Let SRP come to you.