OSHA and EPA Penalties for 2026: Stay Out of Their Crosshairs
The fine folks at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have set their penalties for 2026.
OSHA
Maximum OSHA civil penalties for 2026 have been set to:
Serious &
Other than Serious Violations
$16,550
Repeat &
Willful
Violations
$165,514
Failure to Abate
(per day)
$16,550
EPA
Looking at EPA Penalties, here’s how they’re shaping up for 2026:
Clean Air Act
Daily
$124,426
Clean Water Act
Daily
$68,445
RCRA
Daily
$93,058
CERCLA
(Including EPCRA)
Daily
$71,545
When it comes to the EPA, environmental statutes typically set out a “per day” penalty, as well as a maximum statutory penalty. But keep in mind that certain statutes allow for civil judicial enforcement that does not carry a maximum penalty.
Why did the penalties stay the same as last year?
Typically, the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 requires federal agencies to adjust their maximum fees for violations to stay commensurate with the cost of living. In other words, as the price of a gallon of milk goes up, so too do OSHA fines. But the Office of Management and Budget decided to cancel them for 2026.
So, what can you do about it?
Your business never wants to be cited by OSHA. Standard fines can be very expensive, and if OSHA finds the same conditions exist years after the fact, they can hit you with a Willful or Repeated violation of up to $165,514. This is one of the many reasons why it is imperative to have a proactive environmental, health, and safety program to identify and resolve issues before they become bigger issues.
Staying out of regulators’ crosshairs is a good thing, no matter which regulatory body you’re talking about. One thing you can do is know ahead of time what a regulator’s looking for. Need some guidance, this article’s a great place to start: Regulatory Audit Best Practices
Now’s a great time to save money by going vegan or—better yet—improving your safety culture. See how easy and cost-effective it can be to reduce your regulatory risk.
