OSHA Violation Penalties
$12,540,547,182 in penalties across 7,042,256 violations from 1,321,440 workplace inspections.
Penalties by Violation Type
OSHA classifies violations by severity. Willful violations carry the highest average fines — these are cases where the employer knowingly disregarded safety requirements. Repeat violations are issued when an employer has been previously cited for the same or a substantially similar condition.
| Violation Type | Count | Total Fines | Average Fine | Max Fine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serious | 5,752,349 | $8,393,645,010 | $1,459 | $335,500 |
| Willful | 75,577 | $1,852,995,584 | $24,518 | $3,610,000 |
| Repeat | 281,870 | $1,351,471,261 | $4,795 | $1,700,000 |
| Other-Than-Serious | 859,970 | $546,505,801 | $635 | $92,250 |
| Unclassified | 7,279 | $130,193,371 | $17,886 | $1,500,000 |
| P | 16 | $178,385 | $11,149 | $70,000 |
| H | 6 | $4,400 | $733 | $2,800 |
Penalty Trends by Year
Annual breakdown of OSHA penalties. Note the significant increase in fines from 2015 onward, reflecting OSHA's penalty adjustment for inflation.
| Year | Violations | Total Fines | Largest Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 81,265 | $362,387,875 | $161,928 |
| 2019 | 197,708 | $828,937,341 | $405,000 |
| 2018 | 195,312 | $773,748,001 | $352,688 |
| 2017 | 203,397 | $774,177,861 | $750,000 |
| 2016 | 208,300 | $661,547,865 | $324,000 |
| 2015 | 205,893 | $574,572,218 | $203,280 |
| 2014 | 210,263 | $549,562,678 | $180,000 |
| 2013 | 201,796 | $509,885,863 | $150,000 |
| 2012 | 202,002 | $522,639,501 | $182,450 |
| 2011 | 202,053 | $522,254,947 | $180,000 |
| 2010 | 220,696 | $405,054,521 | $280,000 |
| 2009 | 209,706 | $331,150,183 | $90,000 |
| 2008 | 211,862 | $317,570,781 | $163,460 |
| 2007 | 211,629 | $309,852,334 | $112,000 |
| 2006 | 209,769 | $298,551,317 | $110,000 |
| 2005 | 201,959 | $324,821,986 | $153,000 |
| 2004 | 207,337 | $295,760,007 | $196,000 |
| 2003 | 208,526 | $293,359,915 | $196,000 |
| 2002 | 204,665 | $294,077,653 | $368,550 |
| 2001 | 197,665 | $295,296,542 | $318,935 |
| 2000 | 192,871 | $298,298,540 | $227,500 |
| 1999 | 183,038 | $274,835,742 | $227,500 |
| 1998 | 181,460 | $252,861,832 | $420,000 |
| 1997 | 188,459 | $265,588,118 | $1,500,000 |
| 1996 | 152,617 | $220,145,388 | $1,500,000 |
| 1995 | 199,735 | $257,824,450 | $490,000 |
| 1994 | 279,059 | $345,808,148 | $540,000 |
| 1993 | 254,137 | $297,889,522 | $3,080,000 |
| 1992 | 256,500 | $294,716,921 | $490,000 |
| 1991 | 231,863 | $262,183,737 | $1,120,000 |
| 1990 | 195,995 | $118,408,790 | $908,800 |
Largest Individual Penalties
The top 25 highest single penalties ever assessed by OSHA.
| # | Inspection | Date | Type | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 101456325 | Oct 28, 1988 | Willful | $3,610,000 |
| 2 | 100059591 | May 11, 1988 | Willful | $3,100,000 |
| 3 | 100490705 | Sep 8, 1993 | — | $3,080,000 |
| 4 | 100490705 | Sep 8, 1993 | — | $3,080,000 |
| 5 | 101199420 | Oct 22, 1987 | Willful | $2,380,000 |
| 6 | 2052983 | Oct 22, 1987 | Willful | $2,380,000 |
| 7 | 18252858 | Nov 2, 1989 | Repeat | $1,700,000 |
| 8 | 101450336 | Nov 4, 1987 | Willful | $1,616,000 |
| 9 | 122163967 | Nov 29, 1997 | Unclassified | $1,500,000 |
| 10 | 122163967 | Apr 15, 1996 | Unclassified | $1,500,000 |
| 11 | 103077707 | Jan 13, 1988 | Willful | $1,398,000 |
| 12 | 100056688 | Jul 21, 1987 | Willful | $1,177,500 |
| 13 | 18252858 | Feb 11, 1991 | Repeat | $1,120,000 |
| 14 | 217623685 | Feb 11, 1988 | — | $939,600 |
| 15 | 104464201 | Feb 6, 1990 | Willful | $908,800 |
| 16 | 104464201 | Aug 21, 1991 | Willful | $908,800 |
| 17 | 100056688 | Jul 21, 1987 | Willful | $902,500 |
| 18 | 100936913 | Dec 13, 1988 | Willful | $875,000 |
| 19 | 101576148 | Apr 19, 1988 | Willful | $846,000 |
| 20 | 866665 | Jul 7, 1989 | Willful | $832,000 |
| 21 | 101456325 | May 23, 1990 | Willful | $826,650 |
| 22 | 101456325 | Jul 15, 1993 | Willful | $826,650 |
| 23 | 101399624 | Sep 25, 1987 | Willful | $812,000 |
| 24 | 623272 | Apr 1, 1986 | Willful | $810,000 |
| 25 | 2242808 | May 19, 1987 | Willful | $776,000 |
Understanding OSHA Violation Types
Serious — A violation where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result. Maximum penalty: $16,131 per violation (2024).
Willful — A violation that the employer intentionally and knowingly commits, or commits with plain indifference to the law. Minimum penalty: $11,524. Maximum: $161,323 per violation (2024).
Repeat — A violation of any standard where the employer has been previously cited for a substantially similar violation. Maximum penalty: $161,323 per violation (2024).
Other-Than-Serious — A violation that has a direct relationship to job safety and health but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm. Maximum penalty: $16,131 per violation (2024).
Frequently Asked Questions
This data comes from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforcement database. It includes all violation events recorded from workplace inspections conducted by federal and state OSHA programs. The data spans from the 1970s through 2020 and includes penalty amounts, violation types, and abatement dates.
When OSHA issues a citation, the employer has 15 working days to either pay the penalty, request an informal conference with the OSHA Area Director, or contest the citation before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Employers may also negotiate penalty reductions through settlement agreements, especially if they take immediate corrective action.
In 2015, Congress passed the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act, which required federal agencies (including OSHA) to adjust their penalties for inflation. OSHA had not increased penalties since 1990. The adjustment took effect in August 2016, resulting in a roughly 80% increase in maximum penalty amounts. Penalties are now adjusted annually for inflation.
Yes. Employers can contest citations, penalties, and abatement dates. The contest is heard by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), an independent federal agency. Many contested cases are resolved through settlement, often with reduced penalties in exchange for the employer agreeing to fix the hazards and implement safety programs.