U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) adjustments to the maximum civil penalty dollar amounts for OSHA violations have been finalized. The 2017 inflation adjustments will push the penalties even higher.
Under the 2017 rule, the maximum OSHA civil penalties will be:
| 2016 Penalties | 2017 Penalties | |
| Other than Serious violations | $12,471 | $12,675 |
| Serious violations | $12,471 | $12,675 |
| Repeat violations | $124,709 | $126,749 |
| Willful violations | $124,709 | $126,749 |
| Failure to abate (per day) | $12,471 | $12,675 |
The new OSHA penalty amounts are applicable to OSHA citations issued after January 13, 2017, whose associated violations occurred within the six month statute of limitations. The DOL is required to adjust maximum OSHA penalties for inflation by January 15 of each new year.
Source: DOL and Seyfarth Shaw LLP
