OSHA's New Penalty Levels
New OSHA maximum fines went into effect in August 2016. The last time OSHA maximum fines were increased was in 1990. Here are the new maximums:
Penalty Level Old New
Serious $7,000 $12,741
Willful $70,000 $124,709
Failure to Abate $7,000 $12,741
Along with these new penalty levels OSHA also set a new minimum penalty of $8,908 for Repeat and Willfull violations. State OSHA programs like MIOSHA have 6 months to adopt maximum penalties that are “at least as effective” as federal OSHA. The process for Michigan to adopt these new penalty levels may take several months or more because legislative action is required to accomplish the changes. You can read more about the OSHA penalty levels here. MIOSHA penalty changes information can be viewed here.
Penalty Level Old New
Serious $7,000 $12,741
Willful $70,000 $124,709
Failure to Abate $7,000 $12,741
Along with these new penalty levels OSHA also set a new minimum penalty of $8,908 for Repeat and Willfull violations. State OSHA programs like MIOSHA have 6 months to adopt maximum penalties that are “at least as effective” as federal OSHA. The process for Michigan to adopt these new penalty levels may take several months or more because legislative action is required to accomplish the changes. You can read more about the OSHA penalty levels here. MIOSHA penalty changes information can be viewed here.