Jan 16, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Labor has adjusted OSHA penalties for 2025, raising fines for safety violations to account for inflation.

Effective January 15, 2025, the changes reflect an annual inflation adjustment mandated by federal law. The maximum penalty for serious and other-than-serious violations will increase from $16,131 to $16,550 per violation. Meanwhile, fines for willful or repeated violations will rise from $161,323 to $165,514 per violation.

These adjustments are part of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act, enacted by Congress in 2015. The law requires federal agencies to maintain the deterrent effect of penalties by adjusting them annually to account for inflation. 

The DOL urges employers to prioritize compliance with OSHA regulations to ensure workplace safety and avoid costly violations. The agency encourages employers and workers to review the updated penalty amounts and familiarize themselves with the final rule.

More information on the revised penalties is available on the Federal Register.

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