OSHA Increasing Fines and Penalties SIGNIFICANTLY!

The days of "playing the numbers game" with fatalities in the workplace vs. fines or worse, litigation and settlements and insurance premiums is coming to an end ... the Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) is coming to town. Willful violations will start at $250,000 and go up from
 there ...

"The current maximum penalty for a serious violation, one capable of causing death or serious physical harm, is only $7,000 and the maximum penalty for a willful violation is $70,000. The average penalty for a serious violation will increase from about $1,000 to an average $3,000 to $4,000. Monetary penalties for violations of the OSH Act have been increased only once in 40 years despite inflation. The Protecting America's Workers Act would raise these penalties, for the first time since 1990, to $12,000 and $250,000, respectively. Future penalty increases would also be tied to inflation."

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=17544
http://www.osha.gov/dep/svep-directive.pdf
http://www.osha.gov/dep/penalty-change-memo.pdf.

Fall hazards covered under the following general industry standards:

1. 29 CFR §1910.23 - Guarding floor and wall openings and holes [Walking-Working Surfaces]
2. 29 CFR §1910.28 - Safety requirements for scaffolding [Walking-Working Surfaces]
3. 29 CFR §1910.29 - Manually propelled mobile ladder stands and scaffolds (towers) [Walking-Working Surfaces]
4. 29 CFR §1910.66 - Powered platforms for building maintenance [Powered Platforms, Manlifts, and Vehicle-Mounted Work Platforms]
5. 29 CFR §1910.67 - Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms [Powered Platforms, Manlifts, and Vehicle-Mounted Work Platforms]
6. 29 CFR §1910.68 - Manlifts [Powered Platforms, Manlifts, and Vehicle-Mounted Work Platforms]

Fall hazards covered under the following construction industry standards:
1. 29 CFR §1926.451 - General requirements [Scaffolds]
2. 29 CFR §1926.452 - Additional requirements applicable to specific types of scaffolds
3. 29 CFR §1926.453 - Aerial lifts [Scaffolds]
4. 29 CFR §1926.501 - Duty to have fall protection
5. 29 CFR §1926. 502 - Fall protection systems criteria and practices
6. 29 CFR §1926.760 - Fall protection [Steel Erection]
7. 29 CFR §1926.1052 - Stairways [Ladders]