New leadership in OSHA has brought about changes in overall strategies and the way they inspect businesses. The costs and fine structures have not changed in two decades, but not now that too is about to change.

On the positive side, an employer who has been inspected by OSHA within the previous five years and has no serious, willful, repeat, or failure-to-abate violations will receive a 10 percent reduction for history. Previously this was based on a three year period.

Conversely, employers that have been cited by OSHA for any high gravity serious, willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations within the previous five years will receive a 10 percent increase in their penalty, up to the statutory maximum. Repeat violations will be subjected to historical look back increase from three to five years. (Read more...)