While many believe that OSHA rulemaking and enforcement may lessen under the Trump administration, the agency has several initiatives in the works that employers should note.
Increased Penalties: OSHA typically raises the maximum penalties for violations each year. Starting Jan 15, 2025, Serious and Other-Than-Serious violations have increased to $16,550 per violation, while Willful or Repeated Violations have increased to $165,514 per violation. The penalty for a Failure to Abate will be $16,550 per day unabated beyond the abatement date [generally limited to 30 days maximum].
Targeted Inspections: The agency is also updating its inspection program to target establishments with high injury and illness rates using data from 2021-2023 reporting.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations:
On January 13, 2025, OSHA’s new rule mandates that all PPE must “properly fit”. employee. This is a revision to OSHA’s 29 CFR 1926.95, (under its Construction Standards) explicitly states that PPE must be safely designed, constructed, and selected to ensure it fits each affected employee. This change addresses concerns about the inadequacy of standard-sized PPE, particularly for women and workers with diverse body types, and mandates employers must assess and ensure PPE is appropriately sized for all employees through regular inspections, providing training on PPE usage and the importance of proper fit. There is a recordkeeping requirement as well.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations:
On January 13, 2025, OSHA’s new rule mandates that all PPE must “properly fit”. employee. This is a revision to OSHA’s 29 CFR 1926.95, (under its Construction Standards) explicitly states that PPE must be safely designed, constructed, and selected to ensure it fits each affected employee. This change addresses concerns about the inadequacy of standard-sized PPE, particularly for women and workers with diverse body types, and mandates employers must assess and ensure PPE is appropriately sized for all employees through regular inspections, providing training on PPE usage and the importance of proper fit. There is a recordkeeping requirement as well.