OSHA raises penalties for 2021
Posted January 18, 2021
OSHA, along with other Department of Labor (DOL) agencies, will see an increase in penalties in 2021. The DOL released a pre-publication version of its final rule revising civil monetary penalties assessed or enforced in the regulations for 2021.
OSHA's adjusted penalties for 2021 are shown in the following table. They take effect January 15 and apply to any penalties assessed after that date.
Regulation | Type of violation | Penalty amounts – 2020 | Penalty amounts – 2021 |
| §1903.15(d)(1) | Willful violation, minimum | $9,639 | $9,753 |
| §1903.15(d)(1) | Willful violation, maximum | $134,937 | $136,532 |
| §1903.15(d)(2) | Repeated violation | $134,937 | $136,532 |
| §1903.15(d)(3) | Serious violation | $13,494 | $13,653 |
| §1903.15(d)(4) | Other-than-serious violation | $13,494 | $13,653 |
| §1903.15(d)(5) | Failure to correct violation | $13,494 | $13,653 |
| §1903.15(d)(6) | Posting requirement violation | $13,494 | $13,653 |
The Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvement Act of 2015 requires the DOL to adjust its assessed penalty levels no later than January 15 of each year.
This article was written by Rachel Krubsack of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
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