It's a brand new year, and everyone knows what that means: adjustments to OSHA fines based on inflation!
Here at TT&S, we sincerely hope that isn't the first thing you think about with the new year, but it's important to remember that those fines can be a steep judgment placed on your company's safety program.
The newest adjustments include a maximum of $16,550 for serious or other-than-serious violations, and $165,514 for willful or repeated violations. Remember, that is a fine per EACH violation, not a cumulative total per OSHA visit.
What a fine ultimately will be is a complex question that includes a large set of criteria. OSHA has an equation that takes into account the gravity of the violation, the size of the employer's business, the good faith efforts of the employer, and the employer's history of previous violations.
Once the penalty has been exacted, an employer has a few different options to respond to and potentially negotiate. But the truth still stands: OSHA penalties are there to enforce health and safety regulations, so keep your safety program sharp!
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