OSHA Raises Penalties, Requires Injury/Illness Summaries

On January 2, civil penalties increased for workplace health and safety violations by 2 percent as per the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. This requires the U.S. Department of Labor to adjust penalties for inflation at the beginning of each year.

The new maximum penalties are as follows:

  • Willful and repeated violations – $129,336 per violation
  • Serious, other than serious and posting requirements – $12,934
  • Failure to abate violations – $12,934

Before 2015, the last penalty adjustments were made in 1990, and after the initial adjustment penalties grew by 78 percent. Each year thereafter, the increase has been determined by the inflation rate from the Consumer Price Index. States with their own occupational health and safety plans must meet or exceed the federal maximum penalties.

Illness/Injury Summaries

OSHA would also like to remind all affected employers that a copy of Form 300A summarizing work-related illnesses and injuries must be posted each year from February 1 to April 30. The form must be posted in a common area where employee notices are usually posted.

Businesses with 10 or fewer employees and employers in certain low-hazard industries are exempt. For more information contact federal OSHA or your state’s health and safety authority.