We mentioned before that as of August 1, OSHA fines will be dramatically increased for the first time in 25 years. But did you know other federal agencies will be increasing their fines as well? The Inflation Adjustment Act, which was signed into law last November, ensures federal agencies regularly update the monetary levels of civil penalties to keep pace with inflation. This act required agencies to raise their penalties by August 1 of this year, with a maximum increase of 150%.

So what does this mean for builders and contractors? It means that you must pay even closer attention to what the laws are in order to avoid federal fines from a variety of agencies.

For example, OSHA's maximum fine for a violation of serious worker protection jumps from $7,000 to $12,471.

The EPA penalty for violating stormwater permitting requirements increases to a maximum of $51,570 per violation from a prior maximum civil penalty of $37,500 per violation – an increase of nearly 40%.

The Fish and Wildlife Service will see a 98% increase in penalty fees for violating the Endangered Species Act’s “take” prohibition from $25,000 to $49,467 per violation.

Please do be vigilant about following the letter of the law. If you need help or clarification on what the laws are, please give UTCLC a call and we can provide you with the proper resources to ensure you are well-versed in federal compliance.