Occupational Safety and Health Act

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) is unique for it is one of the few laws under which employers may be charged with crimes and criminal penalties for violating OSHA safety or health standards.  For instance, an employer found guilty of causing the death of an employee through a willful OSHA violation may be fined up to $10,000.00 and/or imprisoned for six months.  Non?criminal civil penalties may also be imposed, reaching $70,000.00 for each willful or repeated violation and reaching $7,000.00 for each serious or non?serious violation.

The labor and employment attorneys of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP assist employers in making the right decisions under OSHA.  We apply our experience in advising clients concerning OSHA requirements before OSHA compliance inspections; consulting with employers at the outset and during compliance inspections; advising clients during closing conferences at the conclusion of inspections; drafting and filing notices of contest to citations, fines and abatement periods; attending settlement conferences where citations, fines and abatement periods may be reduced or eliminated and in many cases we have successfully contested citations, penalties and abatement periods before an administrative law judge and the OSHA Review Commission, as well as appealing OSHA Review Commission decisions through the courts.