In accordance with federal legislation which went into effect yesterday, August 1, fines for OSHA infractions by employers nationwide will be raised by 78 percent. The following schedule of fine increases was released by the US Labor Department:
|
Type of Violation |
Current Maximum Penalty |
New Maximum Penalty |
|
Serious Violations |
$7,000 per violation |
$12,471 per violation |
|
Failure to Abate |
$7,000 per day beyond the abatement date |
$12,471/day beyond abatement date |
|
Willful or Repeated |
$70,000 per violation |
$124,709 per violation |
In a press release, Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez said, "Civil penalties should be a credible deterrent that influences behavior far and wide. Adjusting our penalties to keep pace with the cost of living can lead to significant benefits for workers and can level the playing field responsible employers who should not have to compete with those who don't follow the law."
