On Jan. 2, 2018 the U.S. Department of Labor issued a Federal Register notice announcing an increase in the maximum penalty amounts for violations of federal Occupational Safety and Health standards and regulations.
Under the new penalty structure, the maximum penalty allowed for “serious” and “other-than-serious” violations is $12,934. In addition, the maximum penalty allowed for “failure-to-abate” violations is $12,934 each day that an employer fails to abate the specific violation. Finally, the maximum penalty allowed for “willful” and “repeat” violations is $129,336, 10 times the maximum permitted for “serious” and “other-than-serious” violations.
Under the new penalty structure, the maximum penalty allowed for “serious” and “other-than-serious” violations is $12,934. In addition, the maximum penalty allowed for “failure-to-abate” violations is $12,934 each day that an employer fails to abate the specific violation. Finally, the maximum penalty allowed for “willful” and “repeat” violations is $129,336, 10 times the maximum permitted for “serious” and “other-than-serious” violations.
States that have their own occupational safety and health standards and regulations also must raise their maximum penalty amounts for violations by the same amount. Going forward, the maximum penalty amounts will be increased every year to adjust for the rate of inflation.
The regulated community should take notice of these continuing increases in the maximum penalty amounts for OSHA violations. Companies seriously should consider the immediate and future monetary risks associated with accepting proposed OSHA citations and penalties as written.
While accepting a proposed “serious” citation item with a small penalty may not be financially problematic, a company nonetheless may be exposing itself to significant monetary risk down the road.
OSHA could use the company’s acceptance of the proposed “serious” citation item to issue a “willful” or “repeat” violation to the company at a later date.
Read the rest of the story here – Source EHS Today
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