A final rule published by the Department of Labor (DOL) adjusts for inflation the civil monetary penalties assessed or enforced in its regulations, effective Jan. 13, 2017. The adjustments for 2017 apply to the Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Office of the Secretary, Wage and Hour Division, OSHA, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and MSHA. A detailing updated penalty amounts for OSHA is available on DOL's website.

On Aug. 1, 2016, OSHA’s maximum civil penalties increased by 78 percent. Those adjustments stemmed from legislation enacted by Congress in November 2015 that required federal agencies to adjust their civil penalties to account for inflation. The law also directed agencies to publish “catch-up” rules to make up for lost time since the penalties were last adjusted. According to DOL’s press release about those changes, OSHA’s maximum penalties had not been raised since 1990.

Learn more about the for 2017.