The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the annual increases to their fine schedule for 2023. These changes took effect on January 17th, 2023.
The increases follow the 2015 Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act to advance the effectiveness of penalties and maintain their deterrent effect. Under the Act, agencies must publish “catch-up” rules that adjust the level of civil penalties and make subsequent adjustments for inflation.
For 2023, OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations will increase from $14,502 per violation to $15,625 per violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations will increase from $145,027 per violation to $156,259 per violation. This represents an approximate 8% increase from the fines for 2022. With no end to soaring inflation in sight, OSHA fines will continue to raise at similar levels for the foreseeable future.