As the Obama Administration gets ready to exit, there is no relief for employers. As a parting gift, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration just increased penalties for safety violations. A serious and other than serious violation has increased from $7,000 to $12,471,a willful and repeat has increased from $70,000 to $124,709 and a failure to abate has increased from $7,000 a day to $12,741.
In addition, an employer’s failure to report certain injuries to OSHA, such as the loss of an eye, has gone up from $1,000 to at least $5,000, maybe more depending on the situation.
OSHA will adjust the penalties for inflation going forward. This means an employee injured as the result of an OSHA violation can cost you massive fines, in addition to workers’ compensation costs. A strong and vigorous safety program is the best way to avoid these penalties. But it also helps to know what’s in store for your business if you do have a violation. PEO’s can monitor and inform you of the latest penalties and the fines.
Visit our web site at www.StaffingCompSolutions.com, call us at 202-302-1212, or email us at david@StaffingCompSolutions.com for more information about all our staffing and workers’ comp offerings.
Sincerely
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com