Effective August 1, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has increased penalties for safety violations for infractions occurring after Nov. 2, 2015.  The maximum penalties have risen 78%, or from $7,000 to $12,471 and will increase the fine for willful and repeated violations from $70,000 to $124,709.

The increases are the result of a recent federal mandate that called for increases in OSHA penalties to align with the Consumer Price Index.  It is the first increase in 26 years.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez welcomed the increase in fines and said in a release that civil penalties should be “a credible deterrent that influences behavior far and wide. Adjusting our penalties to keep pace with the cost of living can lead to significant benefits for workers and can level the playing field (for) responsible employers who should not have to compete with those who don’t follow the law.”

At Eastman Cooke, safety has always been a top priority, we’re proud of the feedback we recently received on our site safety and risk assessment during our annual insurance renewal process.  We applaud the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for setting higher penalties, demonstrating a shared commitment to worker safety and employer responsibility.

For more information and additional increases, click here.