Spencer Fane attorney Andrew Brought recently discussed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s increased penalties for workplace safety citations in an article published by Business Insurance.
In the article, Perspectives: OSHA Penalties Put Focus on Safe Practices, Drew outlined how OSHA has intensified its enforcement response toward companies with repeat and willful workplace safety citations. Noting that six-figure and even million-dollar fines have risen alongside criminal prosecutions for offenders, Drew illustrated how these actions “underscore the seriousness with which OSHA under the Biden Administration is enforcing workplace safety rules.”
With such penalties and the update of the Severe Violator Enforcement Program, Drew surmised that this enforcement trend will continue. As a result, “businesses should carefully evaluate their training, operating procedures, safe work practices, and related programs in meeting their regulatory duties for a safe workplace.”
At Spencer Fane, Drew counsels manufacturers, industrial clients, and businesses with complex environmental and workplace safety/OSHA matters. He currently serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and has held other leadership positions at the firm, including co-chair of the Environment and Energy practice group.
Access the entire November issue of Business Insurance, where Drew’s featured article can be found on page 29, here.