Bigger OSHA Penalties for Safety Violations

What happened: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Jan.11 finalized adjustments to the monetary penalties it assesses for safety rule violations.

Why it matters: Safety penalty violators will pay higher fines for infractions. The maximum penalty for “serious” and “other-than-serious” violations increased from $15,625 to $16,131 per violation, while the maximum penalty for “willful” or “repeated” violations jumped from $156,259 to $161,323 per violation. The top infractions in 2023 were those centered on fall protection, hazard communication, ladders, scaffolding, and powered industrial trucks.

What’s next: The new penalties took effect Jan. 15. ARTBA’s highest priority remains the safety and welfare of roadway workers and users, so it encourages members to protect their workers and businesses with safety training and other resources, including those on its safety resources page. Most are available at no cost. Prianka Sharma is the contact on OSHA’s new penalties. For safety matters, it’s Bradley Sant.