The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces safety regulations and sets civil penalties for violations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. If OSHA inspects your business and finds a violation, it will assign a penalty. OSHA has the discretion to reduce penalties for smaller businesses or an employer’s good faith efforts.
2024 OSHA civil penalty minimums and maximums
OSHA assigns a violation type and penalty for each safety infraction. There is no limit to the number of violations OSHA can cite during an inspection.
Posting OSHA citation notices
Employers are required to make employees aware of hazards in the workplace. If you receive an OSHA violation notice, you must post a copy at or near the location where each violation occurred.
The OSHA notice must remain posted for three working days or until the hazard is abated, whichever is longer. (Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays do not count as working days.) If you don’t comply, you could suffer more penalties.
Your options after an OSHA citation
If OSHA issues you a citation, you may:
- Correct the condition by the date specified in the notice
- Request an informal conference by the date listed in the notice
Always take OSHA notices and deadlines seriously — and consult your lawyer for advice.
