OSHA Announces Increase in Civil Penalty Amounts for 2021

Civil penalty amounts for OSHA violations are being increased based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2021.

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The U.S. Department of Labor has announced adjustments to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) civil penalty amounts for serious and other-than-serious safety violations based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2021.

OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations will increase from $13,494 per violation to $13,653 per violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations will increase from $134,937 per violation to $136,532 per violation.

Congress passed the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act in 2015 to advance the effectiveness of civil monetary penalties and to maintain their deterrent effect. The Act requires agencies to publish “catch-up” rules that adjust the level of penalties and make subsequent annual adjustments for inflation no later than January 15 of each year.

The Department of Labor Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Annual Adjustments for 2021 final rule is effective January 15, 2021, and the increased penalty levels apply to any penalties assessed after January 15, 2021.

Visit the OSHA Penalties page for more information. 

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