OSHA

What are the Top 10 Most Expesive OSHA Violations in 2021 So Far?

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) was created in 1970 and covers most employers in the private sector and their workers. OSHA sets standards for workplace safety, and as many safety managers know, can levy steep fines for violations.

Here are the most expensive OSHA penalties this far in 2021:

  1. A Waco, TX bath and shower manufacturer is facing proposed penalties totaling $558,821 for 19 violations of failing to use machine guards.

  2. A Hugo, OK railcar service provider was cited for 11 serious violations and two willful violations, and has proposed $419,347 in penalties after two employees died from exposure to natural gas.

  3. OSHA investigated an employee complaint at a Waterville, Maine auto body manufacturing plant and proposed $393,992 in fines for not addressing fall and noise hazards.

  4. A Minnesota-based construction company settled with OSHA on a $380,000 penalty after exposing employees to excavation hazards. The company was also required to hire a safety manager and a third-party safety consultant.

  5. In a second violation after first being cited in 2018, an Oak Grove, MO plumbing company is facing a second penalty of $299,590 for failing to implement proper trenching standards.

  6. A national discount retailer was determined by OSHA to have exposed workers to hazards including fire and blocked exist. OSHA proposed $265,265 in penalties.

  7. A Polson, MT sawmill was investigated after an employee lost a partial finger. For using unguarded saw blades and not following correct lock-out / tag-out procedures, the lumber processing facility facing $264,478 in proposed penalties.

  8. After a maintenance mechanic at a Lakewood, NJ ice cream manufacturing plant lost two fingers repairing an ice cream wrapper machine, the company was has been assessed a $237,176 fine.

  9. $234,054 in penalties are proposed for a Pewaukee, WI water technology company after a guardrail failed and an employee fell into a nearly thirty-foot deep water testing pit.

  10. A Fargo, ND seed company settled on a $250,000 penalty and a mandate to improve safety training, after an employee’s leg was partially amputated related to injuries sustained in the operating bin of a grain auger.

Remember that OSHA can inspect your workplace at any time, so it pays to be ready. Boyer Safety Services offers a virtual audit to help safety managers and program supervisors stay in compliance.

Are You Prepared for an OSHA Audit?

Make Sure You’re Ready if OSHA Wants to Inspect

Every day, safety managers across the country work hard to keep their workplaces in compliance with state, local, and federal requirements—and keep workers healthy and safe.

For those organizations covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employees have the right to request an OSHA inspection. OSHA may also initiate an inspection, for a variety of reasons, and vary rarely offers advance notice.

This is why it’s extremely important to have your processes and procedures mapped out before-hand. In the event you receive a surprise inspection, make sure you know:

  1. Who to direct the OSHA inspector, or CSHO (compliance safety and health officer) to. This could be a manager or other supervisor, or in some cases perhaps a business owner. Whomever you choose, it should be someone who is regularly on-site. It is also a good idea to have a backup representative.

  2. The standard process for an inspection. OSHA inspections consist of three primary parts

    • The opening conference, where the CSHO will state the reasons for the inspection

    • The “walkaround.” During this portion of the inspection, the CSHO will check the potential health and safety hazards described in the complaint. A representative from management can and should be present.

    • The closing conference, where the CSHO will discuss remediation if necessary as well as any subsequent steps for the business to take.

You can find a detailed explanation of this process on OSHA’s website: The OSHA Inspection: A Step-by-Step Guide (opens to a PDF).

Boyer Safety also offers a virtual audit that simulations the walkaround section of an OSHA inspection.