The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced an increase in civil penalty amounts for 2024. Effective January 15, 2024, any penalty assessed on or after this date, regardless of when the inspection was opened, will be subject to the increased amounts.

The new penalty amounts are as follows:

• For Willful Violations, the minimum penalty increases from $10,360 to $11,524, while the maximum penalty increases from $145,027 to $161,323.

• For Repeated Violations, the maximum penalty increases from $145,027 to $161,323.

• For Serious Violations, the maximum penalty increases from $14,502 to $16,131.

• For Other-Than-Serious Violations, the maximum penalty also increases from $14,502 to $16,131.

These changes reflect the annual inflation adjustment to civil penalty amounts, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015.

In light of these increased penalties, it is more important than ever for employers to prioritize safety and compliance with OSHA regulations. One way to do this is by working with a safety consultant, such as ESM INSITE, and there are many benefits for companies to engage:

• A safety consultant can help employers improve their compliance with safety regulations and reduce the risk of incurring penalties.

• They can help you conduct your own site inspections to provide valuable insight into the natural workflows, risks, and employee behaviors at a worksite, and use this information to identify gaps in existing policies or to develop new policies that accurately reflect operational practices.

• Safety consultants can also provide training to supervisors and employees to improve their understanding of safety regulations and best practices.

• They can help establish safety committees, provide stewardship reports, and leverage technology to create efficiencies and identify key risk areas.

By leveraging ESM INSITE’s compliance portal and Risk Management team, employers can improve their safety culture, reduce the risk of accidents and injuries, and potentially lower their workers' compensation costs. Overall, working with a safety consultant can provide a competitive advantage and help ensure a safe and healthy work environment for all employees.

To learn more about tools to help your business, you can visit here.

For more information on the changes to OSHA civil penalty amounts, you can visit the OSHA website.