The price of not adhering to workplace safety standards in North Carolina just went up. The North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) has announced new penalty amounts for violations of occupational safety and health regulations, an update that took into effect starting July 1. The increased fines, which are pegged to the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI), will apply to violations cited after this date. According to NCDOL's recent press release, the hike in penalty costs is part of the annual adjustments mandated by law.
In the effort to maintain the value of fines aligned with inflation, the NCDOL has raised the stakes for employers who put workers at risk. The maximum fines now reach up to $165,514 for the most egregious offenses, including willful and repeat violations. Announcing the adjustments, the NCDOL's press release stated, "Serious Violation: $16,550, Posting Violation: $16,550, Willful Violation: $165,514 (minimum of $11,823), Repeat Violation: $165,514, Failure to Abate a Violation (FTA): $16,550 per day, Violation involving workers under age 18: $29,000."
The updated penalty structure is a clear signal from the NCDOL that noncompliance with safety standards won't be taken lightly. Featuring a substantial jump from previous years, the fines for serious violations and failure to post required notifications now sit at $16,550. Moreover, when an employer fails to correct a violation, the new daily penalty for FTA will start hitting pockets significantly harder. Acknowledging the increase, the NCDOL hopes these adjustments will reinforce the importance of workplace safety and deter violators.
