OSHA Scan

OSHA violation penalties in 2026 — what fines cost, and how to stay off the citation list

For penalties assessable in 2026, OSHA's maximums are $16,550 per serious or other-than-serious violation, $165,514 per willful or repeated violation, and $16,550 per day for failure to abate past the deadline (amounts as of January 2026; they are adjusted periodically — check osha.gov/penalties for current figures). Citations multiply per violation and per instance, so one bad walkthrough can stack quickly. The cheapest penalty is the one that never happens: the checklist below targets the most-cited standards, and a free AI photo scan flags visible violations before an inspector does.

How much are OSHA fines in 2026?

For penalties assessable in 2026: up to $16,550 per serious or other-than-serious violation, up to $165,514 per willful or repeated violation, and up to $16,550 per day for failure to abate beyond the deadline. These are the levels in effect as of January 2026 (unchanged from 2025); OSHA adjusts amounts periodically for inflation, so verify current figures at osha.gov/penalties. Actual assessed penalties are frequently lower after adjustments for gravity, employer size, good faith, and history.

What are the most common OSHA violations?

The same standards dominate the most-cited list year after year: fall protection (1926.501) at the top for over a decade, with hazard communication, ladders, scaffolding, lockout/tagout, respiratory protection, powered industrial trucks, fall protection training, eye and face protection, and machine guarding rounding out the familiar top ten. Most are visible conditions — which is why photo-based self-inspection catches so many of them.

Can I contest an OSHA citation?

Yes. You can request an informal conference with the OSHA area director, and you have 15 working days from receiving the citation to file a written notice of contest, which sends the case to the independent review commission. Many employers resolve citations at the informal conference with penalty reductions or amended abatement dates. For a specific citation, involve counsel — this page is general information, not legal advice.

Does self-inspection actually reduce penalties?

It can influence them. OSHA's penalty structure includes adjustments for good faith — evidence of an effective safety program, like documented self-inspections with corrected findings. The bigger effect is upstream: sites that inspect and fix on a schedule simply have fewer citable conditions on the day an inspector arrives.