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Because many of the hazards OSHA observed had already been identified, but had not been corrected, 12 of the violations that would have otherwise been classified as “serious” are now also classified as “repeat” and “willful,” steeply increasing the penalties and landing Ashley in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program. Here’s how OSHA defines “repeat” and “willful” violations and how they affect penalty calculations.
Repeat Violations
Under what circumstances will OSHA classify a violation as a “repeat” violation? OSHA can cite you for a repeat violation if:
- You’ve been cited for a similar violation within the past 5 years. At one time, OSHA looked at an employer’s enforcement history only for the preceding 3 years, but as of October 1, 2010, the agency will look at your 5-year enforcement history. Any violation that is the same as or very similar to another violation within the previous 5 years may be classified as “repeat.”
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- Another facility within your company has been cited for a similar violation within the past 5 years. OSHA will review your company’s enforcement history in all states under federal jurisdiction. If your facility in Mobile, Alabama, was cited for failing to chock the wheels of semitrailers at its loading docks 3 years ago and an OSHA inspector at your facility in Odessa, Texas, notices the same issue, your Peoria facility may find itself on the hook not only for a serious citation but also for a repeat one.
If you are cited for a repeat violation, the penalty can be up to $70,000 per violation. Ashley Furniture was cited for 12 repeat violations at the maximum proposed penalty, accounting for $840,000 of the proposed fines against the employer.
Willful Violations
A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirement, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health. When OSHA has already been at your facility and pointed out a violation that either has not been corrected, or that has been corrected but allowed to reoccur, or that has been allowed to occur on a different piece of equipment or in a different work area, the Agency may begin to believe that you simply do not care about the welfare of workers.
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In Ashley’s case, OSHA Director David Michaels issued a statement alleging that Ashley Furniture put productivity and deadlines above safety and blamed injured workers for their injuries rather than addressing unsafe conditions in the workplace, leading to the willful classification (carrying $70,000 maximum penalties) for the cited violations.
Ashley Furniture was cited for 12 willful violations at the maximum proposed penalty, accounting for an additional $840,000 of the proposed fines against the employer.
As mentioned, OSHA also placed Ashley in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program; more on that tomorrow.