OSHA Announces New Higher Penalties for Violations

by JPeters | February 5, 2025 1:03 pm

OSHA Announces New Higher Penalties for Violations

 

In keeping with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act[1] of 1990, as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment[2] of 2015, the United States Department of Labor[3] (DOL) announced[4] its annual penalty increases on January 9, 2025.

Here’s how maximum penalties assessed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration[5] (OSHA) have increased for 2025:

• $165,514, up from $161,323, for willful and repeated violations
• $16,550, up from $16,131, each day for failure to abate after the abatement date
• $16,550, up from $16,131 for serious, other-than-serious, and posting requirement violations.

The minimum penalty for a willful or repeated violation will be $11,823, up from $11,524 in 2024. Other civil penalties assessed by the DOL are also increasing and are summarized in the final rule[6]. State plans are required to increase their maximum penalties in alignment with OSHA’s penalty increases. These penalties will apply to all citations issued by OSHA beginning January 16, 2025, including employers with open OSHA cases.

Get Prepared Today!

Failing to prepare[7] in advance of an OSHA inspection can result in greater OSHA penalties and downstream liabilities (e.g. civil lawsuit, criminal prosecution). It is essential for all employers to understand their rights and obligations when interacting with OSHA compliance officers. We can give you the tools you need to manage your next OSHA inspection.

If you’re interested in exploring your preparedness for an OSHA inspection or have received a citation and need guidance, don’t hesitate to contact Orr & Reno for assistance.

James F. Laboe[8]

Source URL: https://orr-reno.com/blog-osha-higher-penalties-2025-prepare-now/

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