On Jan. 15, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) raised its civil health & safety penalties by about 1.8 percent.
The final rule increases minimum and maximum financial penalties for workplace violations. This rate adjusts for inflation, as required by the Inflation Adjustment Act.
Congress enacted the Inflation Adjustment Act on Nov.2, 2015 to improve the effectiveness and deterrent effect of civil monetary penalties. The labor department issued similar annual inflation rate adjustments in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Adjusted Rates For Health & Safety Penalties
Rate increases for health & safety penalties include:
- For a willful violation, in which an employer knowingly failed to comply with an OSHA standard or demonstrated a plain indifference for employee safety, the minimum penalty increases from $9,472 to $9,639 and the maximum penalty increases from $132,598 to $134,937;
- For each repeated violation for an identical or substantially similar violation previously cited by the agency, the penalty ceiling rises from $132,598 to $134,937;
- For each serious violation for workplace hazards that could cause an accident or illness that would most likely result in death or serious physical harm, the maximum penalty increases from $13,260 to $13,494;
- For each other-than-serious violation, the maximum penalty increases from $13,260 to $13,494;
- For each failure to correct violation, the maximum penalty increases from $13,260 to $13,494; and
- For each posting requirement violation, the maximum penalty increases from $13,260 to $13,494.
These new penalty amounts will be applied to any penalties assessed after Jan 15.
With each year, there are greater financial risks for workplaces that receive even small fines — especially for willful or repeat citations.
Recent: REMINDER – EINs & OSHA 300A Forms for 2020
Companies, especially those with existing fines or multiple facilities and work sites, should take steps to improve action now.
Take ownership of your worksite safety and health before OSHA comes to visit with a comprehensive system for discovering and solving health violations… medical surveillance testing.
Medical Surveillance Testing
In most cases, OSHA requires medical surveillance testing, and at no cost to employees.
Worksite Medical makes that program easier with mobile medical testing.
We conduct on-site respirator fit tests, as well as pulmonary function test and heavy metal lab work, right on your job site. We also keep accurate, easy-to-access medical records for your convenience. You’ll keep your employees at work, and stay ahead of OSHA inspections.
With Worksite Medical, a mobile medical testing unit — we can bring all the resources of a lab to you. Our certified lab technicians can perform both qualitative and quantitative respirator tests to ensure a perfect fit.
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Give us a call at 1-844-622-8633, or complete the form below to schedule an on-site visit or to get your free quote!
