When OSHA cites an employer for a safety violation, the initially assessed penalty amount may change before a case is closed. This analysis compares initial assessments to the latest penalty amounts on record across 5,014,736 violations in our database. Current amounts may still be subject to change for cases without a final order date.
| Type | Violations | Avg. Initial | Avg. Current | % Retained |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Serious | 3,677,957 | $1,719 | $1,144 | 66.5% |
Other-than-Serious | 1,096,880 | $956 | $489 | 51.1% |
Repeat | 202,577 | $5,140 | $3,630 | 70.6% |
Willful | 31,558 | $29,053 | $19,077 | 65.7% |
Unclassified | 5,740 | $23,845 | $16,543 | 69.4% |
Posting | 11 | $14,704 | $14,434 | 98.2% |
| Violation Type | % Reduced | % Zeroed Out |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | 58.9% | 2.3% |
| Other-than-Serious | 41.8% | 15.0% |
| Repeat | 46.2% | 2.0% |
| Willful | 64.0% | 4.4% |
| Unclassified | 67.4% | 5.8% |
| Posting | 27.3% | 9.1% |
"Zeroed out" means the latest penalty amount on record is $0 despite an initial assessment greater than $0. The OSHA violation data does not record the specific reason for each change. Common reasons penalties change include informal conferences, contest proceedings, settlement agreements, and reclassification of the violation.
| Initial Penalty Range | Violations | Total Reduced | % Retained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | 3,092,072 | $348,865,785 | 71.3% |
| $1,000 - $5,000 | 1,582,907 | $1,286,058,750 | 65.7% |
| $5,000 - $15,000 | 279,035 | $790,532,369 | 65.6% |
| $15,000 - $50,000 | 48,022 | $440,396,677 | 61.7% |
| Over $50,000 | 12,700 | $425,310,211 | 59.5% |
This analysis compares the initial_penalty (amount OSHA originally assessed) to the current_penalty (latest amount on record) for each violation in our database. Per the DOL enforcement data FAQ, the violation file reflects the most current data, not necessarily a legally final amount. Violations without a final order date are still subject to change. This analysis does not use OSHA's violation event history table, so it can show that a penalty amount changed but cannot attribute why. Common reasons penalties change include informal conferences, formal contest proceedings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), and settlement agreements. This analysis covers violations with an initial penalty greater than $0 across all OSHA inspections in our database. Data sourced from the OSHA violation table in the U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data API. Records are synced daily.
Data Source and Methodology
Data synced dailyData on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA enforcement database, accessed via the DOL public data API. Records are updated daily. We strive for accuracy, but errors in data processing or establishment grouping are possible. Penalty amounts reflect the latest penalty amounts on record in the DOL database and may differ from initial assessments or final amounts after informal conference, settlement, or judicial review. Company pages group inspection records by normalized employer name, city, and state as reported in OSHA records. That grouping is deterministic and non-fuzzy, but it is not a universal legal-entity identifier. If you believe any record is inaccurate, please report it and we will investigate. This product uses the DOL Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the DOL. For official and authoritative records, visit osha.gov.
