BY: Carl Habekost, Esq.
Since 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has increased OSHA penalties annually based on the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, after a 26 year increase hiatus. The DOL is required to adjust maximum OSHA penalties for inflation annually by the 15th of January. Accordingly, the maximum OSHA civil penalties for 2020 have been adjusted as follows, effective January 15, 2020:
| Violation Type | 2019 Penalties | 2020 Penalties |
| Other than Serious/Posting Requirements | $13,260 | $13,494 |
| Serious | $13,260 | $13,494 |
| Repeat | $132,598 | $134,937 |
| Willful | $132,598 | $134,937 |
| Failure to Abate | $13,260/day | $13,494/day |
While OSHA violations have decreased significantly and now stand at a 10-year low, the penalty amounts have trended in the opposite direction.
