Department of Labor expands OSHA fine reductions for small businesses.

The Department of Labor is expanding the number of small businesses that could see big cuts in their Occupational Health and Safety Administration fines.

New guidance from the department would expand a series of fine-reduction measures from businesses with 10 or fewer employees to businesses with up to 25 employees. That includes a penalty reduction of 70%, as well as a 15% penalty reduction for businesses that take immediate steps to address or correct a hazard.

"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, in a statement outlining the new guidance. “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.”

The updated policy also expands the penalty reduction for employers without a history of serious, willful, repeat or failure-to-abate OSHA violations. That means employers that have never been inspected by federal OSHA or an OSHA State Plan, as well as employers that have been inspected in the previous five years and had no serious, willful, or failure-to-abate violations, are eligible for a 20% penalty reduction.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2025/07/23/osha-labor-fine-cut-violation-safety-business.html

I have a better idea. Work towards a safer workplace and you won't pay any fines.