US Department of Labor updates penalty guidelines to support small businesses and eliminate workplace hazards
Penalty adjustments aim to improve workplace safety WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has updated its guidance on penalty and debt collection procedures in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Field Operations Manual in an effort to minimize the burden on small businesses and increase prompt hazard abatement. “All employers should be offered the opportunity to comply with regulations that help maintain a safe working environment,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “Small employers who are working in good faith to comply with complex federal laws should not face the same penalties as large employers with abundant resources. By lowering penalties on small employers, we are supporting the entrepreneurs that drive our economy and giving them the tools they need to keep our workers safe and healthy on the job while keeping them accountable.” The new policy, outlined in the Penalties and Debt Collection section of OSHA...