ABA Family Legal Guide

Law and the Workplace

On the Job

Workplace Safety

What are the penalties for violating the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act)?

First, an employer is required to correct any hazards that violate the law. The employer can also be fined a monetary penalty, the amount of which is determined by the seriousness of the violation. An employer also faces criminal liability and imprisonment for willfully violating an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard that results in an employee's death.