OSHA is raising its fine amounts for 2022 based on cost-of-living adjustments, meaning the maximum monetary penalty is going up $849 per serious violation and $8,495 per willful or repeat violation going forward.
The maximum penalty for serious violations increased from $13,653 to $14,502 per violation and the maximum fine for willful or repeat violations rose from $136,532 to $145,027 per violation.
This is the annual change under the Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015, which requires the Department of Labor to adjust monetary penalties no later than Jan. 15 each year, according to an OSHA news release.
The DOL is required to calculate this adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers. Annual adjustments are based on the percent change between the October index preceding the date of adjustment and the prior year’s October index.
The adjustment multiplier for 2022 is 1.06222, and OSHA multiplied the most recent penalty amount for each applicable penalty by that multiplier and rounded to the nearest dollar.
That adjustment is consistent across the minimum and maximum penalties set in the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Adjustments for 2022 are effective January 15, 2022, and the increased penalty levels apply to any penalties assessed after that date.
