OSHA Fines Could Increase Over 80 Percent Next Year
The news of OSHA’s most recent directive is posted on the National Law Review website. The full content of the article can be viewed below.
OSHA’s new directive specifically addresses foundational support under cranes as a primary inspection target. DICA’s SafetyTech Outrigger Pads and FiberMax Crane Pad product lines provide quantifiable, engineered, incredibly strong and rigid performance that OSHA inspectors have trusted for years.
FiberMax Crane Pads also typically reduce crane pad weight by 60% or more compared to steel crane pads. This massive weight reduction assists in keeping operators under legal trailer weight limits, and can potentially eliminate the need for an additional truck and trailer – further reducing your operational costs.
If you have additional product, fitting or OSHA compliance questions, please contact our fitting specialist team at 800-610-3422.
OSHA Fines Could Increase Over 80 Percent Next Year
According to the National Law Review, Congress recently passed the budget agreement which contained a provision which permits OSHA to raise fines significantly starting in August 2016.
The law permits a one-time “catch up” increase up to 82 percent, since fines have not been raised since 1991. This “catch up” amount is tied to the inflation rate from 1990 to 2015. After that, the maximum penalties would increase with the inflation rate every year.
They would have the following effect:
Citations Current Max With “Catch-Up” Increases
Other than serious Up to $7,000 Up to $12,700
Serious $7,000 $12,740
Repeat $5,000 – $70,000 $9,100 – $127,000
Willful $5,000 – $70,000 $9,100 – $127,000
Failure to Abate $7,000/day $12,740/day
While OSHA has the option of implementing an adjustment less than the maximum amount, Assistant Secretary David Michaels has pushed for years to increase the maximum penalties so it seems unlikely that they would not take full advantage of this increase.
Based on the impending increase to OSHA fines (which would also be required of approved State Plans as well), employees are well advised to audit their compliance with applicable OSHA regulations to ensure that programs, policies and training are all up to date.
Source: National Law Review website