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OSHA raises penalties for 2020

OSHA’s adjusted penalties take effect January 15

Posted January 20, 2020

OSHA, along with other Department of Labor agencies, will see an increase in penalties in 2020. The Department of Labor (DOL) released a pre-publication version of its final rule revising civil monetary penalties assessed or enforced in the regulations for 2020. The Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvement Act of 2015 requires the DOL to adjust its assessed penalty levels no later than January 15 of each year.

OSHA’s adjusted penalties for 2020 are shown in the following table. They will take effect January 15 and apply to any penalties assessed after that date.

Regulation Type of violation Penalty amounts – 2019 Penalty amounts – 2020
§1903.15(d)(1) Willful violation, minimum $9,472 $9,639
§1903.15(d)(1) Willful violation, maximum $132,598 $134,937
§1903.15(d)(2) Repeated violation $132,598 $134,937
§1903.15(d)(3) Serious violation $13,260 $13,494
§1903.15(d)(4) Other-than-serious violation $13,260 $13,494
§1903.15(d)(5) Failure to correct violation $13,260 $13,494
§1903.15(d)(6) Posting requirement violation $13,260 $13,494

This article was written by Rachel Krubsack of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

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