Despite no federal funding, it appears that the Office of Federal Register is operational.  Today, the Federal Register published the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Annual Adjustments for 2019. This final rule increases civil penalties the Department of Labor assesses including those assessed by OSHA.  The rule is effective today and the increased penalty rates will apply to any penalties assessed after the effective date of the rule.  So beginning tomorrow, OSHA civil penalties will increase.

Employers who have open and ongoing OSHA inspections can expect that any citations issued by OSHA after today will reflect the increased penalties.

The new 2019 maximum penalties are as follows:

• Other-than-Serious: $13,260
• Serious: $13,260
• Repeat : $132,589
• Willful: $132,589