The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), while legally bound to a fine structure with limits, is seeking to raise its average fine from the $1,000 range to the $3,000 to $4,000 range while awaiting higher fine approval from Congress.

OSHA Director David Michaels announced on April 22 what the agency is calling its Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP), which replaces the current Enhanced Enforcement Program and takes effect in 45 days.

A concurrent OSHA announcement bemoaned the fact that fines have increased only once in 40 years, saying the agency is looking forward to the passage of Protecting America’s Workers Act (PAWA), which will increase the upper fine for serious violations from $7,000 to $12,000 and the top fine for willful violations from $70,000 to $250,000.

In the next 45 days, OSHA is conducting outreach to inform the nation’s businesses of its SVEP initiative and help them prepare.

Those companies wishing to stay fine-free should make sure they are in compliance with all of OSHA’s standards and regulations. Personnel Concepts offers a wide range of products to help you do so. Browse them today in our Web-based collection of OSHA Programs and Kits.