What can an OSHA citation cost you?
As of January 15, 2025, the federal OSHA maximum is $16,550 per serious violation, up to $165,514 for a willful or repeated violation, and $16,550 per day for failing to fix a cited hazard. A single inspection often produces several citations at once. Enter the violations below to estimate your exposure, and see why missing paperwork is one of the easiest ways to get cited.
Serious
A hazard that could cause death or serious harm the employer knew or should have known about. The most common construction citation.
Other-than-serious
A violation related to safety and health but unlikely to cause serious harm, such as recordkeeping or missing documentation.
Willful or repeated
Intentional disregard, or the same violation cited again. Minimum $11,823 per willful violation.
Failure to abate
Each day a cited hazard goes uncorrected past the abatement date is a separate penalty.
Missing or generic safety documentation is a common source of serious and other-than-serious citations. A verified written program, site-specific plan, and per-task JHA are what an inspector, GC, or prequal reviewer expects to see.
Amounts are the federal OSHA maximums effective January 15, 2025. State-plan states (like California) set their own, sometimes higher, penalties. This is an estimate for awareness, not legal or financial advice.
Common questions
▸How much is an OSHA fine in 2025?
As of January 15, 2025, the federal maximum is $16,550 per serious or other-than-serious violation, up to $165,514 per willful or repeated violation (minimum $11,823 for willful), and $16,550 per day for failure to abate. State-plan states like California set their own amounts.
▸Can a missing safety plan lead to a fine?
Yes. Missing or inadequate written programs and documentation are frequently cited as serious or other-than-serious violations, and a single inspection often produces several citations at once. Required written programs like hazard communication and, in California, the IIPP are common citation points.
▸Does OSHA reduce penalties for small businesses?
Often. OSHA can reduce penalties based on employer size, good-faith efforts, and a clean citation history. The amounts here are the maximums before those reductions, which is what you are exposed to if aggravating factors apply.
Written safety programSite-specific safety planState requirements quizIs it OSHA recordable?