OSHA Fines Could Increase 82 Percent!

According to a provision in the two year spending bill recently passed by both the US House of Representatives and US Senate, maximum penalties from OSHA could increase as much as 82 percent.  Under the new spending bill, OSHA would be allowed to raise fines annually in line with the Consumer Price Index to have a one time “catch up adjustment” of 82 percent to make up for OSHA’s fines going unchanged since 1990.  If adjusted, the current $70,000 maximum for repeat and willful violations would increase to $127,438 and the current $7,000 fine for serious violations maximum would increase to $12,744.  OSHA is among the few federal agencies with civil penalties that don’t increase with inflation.