2026 OSHA Penalty Amounts
payments The numbers
A Walking-Working Surfaces citation isn't a slap on the wrist. As of 2026, OSHA's civil penalties run up to roughly $16,500 per serious violation, the same amount per day for Failure-to-Abate past the deadline, and up to about $165,000 for a willful or repeat violation. Stack a few items on one inspection and the number climbs into six figures — before injury liability or the insurance fallout.
calculate How the math works
Penalties attach per violation, not per inspection, so multiple cited items add up. Failure-to-Abate accrues for each day past the abatement date. A Repeat classification — the same standard cited twice — is where the figure explodes. OSHA adjusts these maximums for inflation every January, so they only climb.
verified_user How we keep you ahead
The cheapest penalty is the one you never get. We close open citations correctly the first time — sealed certification plus self-performed repair, documented for abatement — and keep you ahead with a recurring inspect-and-maintain plan, so a closed citation never reopens as a Repeat.
Got this on a citation — or want to get ahead of it?
We certify it and we fix it, under one contract. Start with a free, no-obligation assessment, or build a custom compliance plan in two minutes.