OSHA INCREASES PENALTIES
January 2, 2018 the U.S. Department of Labor issued a Federal Register notice announcing an increase in the maximum penalty amounts for violations of Federal OSHA and Regulations.
Under the new penalty structure, the maximum penalty allowed for “serious” and “other-than-serious” violations are $12,934. In addition, the maximum penalty allowed for “failure-to-abate” the violation is $12,934 each day that an employer fails to abate the specific violation. Finally, the maximum penalty allowed for “willful” and “repeat” violations is $129,336, 10 times the maximum permitted for “serious” and “other-than-serious” violations.
States that have their own occupational safety and health standards and regulations also must raise their maximum penalty amounts for violations by the same amount. Going forward, the maximum penalty amounts will be increased every year adjusted for inflation.
Businesses need to take immediate notice of these continuing increases in the maximum penalty amounts for OSHA violations. Companies seriously should consider future monetary risks associated with accepting proposed OSHA citations and penalties as written.
Contact Grant Davis at 1-888-991-2929 to get your written OSHA safety plan.
When OSHA regulations, don’t cover everything, and where there’s no specific standard, OSHA uses the General Duty Clause (GDC) of the OSHA Act as a “gap filler” in enforcement actions. The Agency often looks to voluntary consensus standards as a basis for GDC citations as well as information in manufacturer’s handbooks, and warning labels. Over the past 3 years, OSHA’s use of the GDC as an enforcement tool has increased 15% percent.
The courts have interpreted OSHA’s GDC to mean that an employer has a legal obligation to provide a workplace free of conditions or activities that either the employer or industry recognizes as hazardous and that cause, or are likely to cause, death or serious physical harm to employees when there is a feasible method to abate the hazard.
Protect Your Business from The General Duty Clause
OSHA inspectors seek to focus its resources on the most serious, unsafe and hazardous workplaces.
- No Safety Plans, Out-dated Safety Plans or No Active Safety Program.
- Imminent dangerous situations.
- Frequent accidents, catastrophes and fatalities.
- Employee complaints, referrals and follow-up visits.
- Surprise visit, planned or programmed investigations.
Find Out if You Need To Report That Incident:
OSHA PENALTY REGULATIONS
Labor Code 6401.7 (a) states that every employer shall establish, implement and maintain an effective written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) the Department of Labor issued a rule implementing significantly higher penalties upon employers for Occupational Safety and Health Act violations.
Don’t Let OSHA PENALIZE Your Business
Avoid These Costly Fines By Preventing This From Happening to Your Business
Contact Grant Davis at GDI Insurance Agency, Inc today 1-888-991-2929.
At the bottom of each written explanation are folders that have a list of the mandatory and extra safety plans you will receive whatever your business needs in a Safety Plan Bundle.
Don’t find yourself empty handed. These high penalties and fines can easily ruin your bottom line bringing havoc to your daily business operations. This situation can happen to any business!
