Times-They Are Changing – 2/5/24

Safety E-Quick Tips

OWYN Safety Management Platform

Times – They Are Changing

Over the years, various aspects of our lives have transformed, including cars, homes, shopping habits, and even OSHA regulations.

Reflecting on personal experiences, in the 70s, my landscaping company received a visit from an OSHA compliance officer, leading to the identification of violations related to a fire extinguisher and belt guard on an air compressor.

Under the given timeline, the violations were promptly corrected and reported to OSHA, resulting in no penalties.

Around a decade later, OSHA visited again due to an accident that caused injury to an employee’s hand, resulting in a citation and a $100 penalty for the company.

Let’s fast forward to the 90s when I transitioned from being a contractor to a safety consultant, where much of my work involved representing clients when they faced OSHA citations.

During that time, the maximum penalty for Other than Serious and Serious violations was $7,000, with an average reduction of 40-50% based on company size and OSHA history, thus lowering the cost per violation to approximately $3,500 – $4,200.

Then, in 2015, the government decided to adjust OSHA penalties to match the increase in the cost of living, resulting in a significant jump from $7,000 to $12,471 within a year.

Since then, penalties have continued to rise annually according to the Consumer Price Index, reaching a maximum amount of $16,131 for Other than Serious and Serious violations in 2024.

These changes highlight the shift in OSHA’s approach, as companies can no longer simply correct violations and move on.

Today, violations can have more profound financial consequences for businesses. Therefore, it is important to take the necessary steps to prevent OSHA citations and ensure workplace safety to safeguard both employees and profits.

Employee QuickTip

Remember your last close call at work? Let that serve as a reminder to prioritize safety over shortcuts.

Employer/Management QuickTip

Keeping employees safe is important, but so are profits. At today’s penalty rates, OSHA citations can negatively impact any size company’s profits.   

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Thanks for Reading and Please – “Be Safe this Week”.