Wash. Admin. Code § 296-900-14015

Current through Register Vol. 24-20, October 15, 2024
Section 296-900-14015 - Base penalty adjustments

* Tables 8 through 11 describe the various factors DOSH considers when adjusting a base penalty, and the effect on the fine.

-The minimum adjusted base penalty for any standard violation carrying a penalty is one hundred dollars.

- The minimum adjusted penalty for serious violations contributing to a fatality is two thousand five hundred dollars.

- The minimum penalty for willful violations is five thousand dollars per violation unless set to a specific higher amount by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration under 29 C.F.R. 1903.15 and this state is required to equal the higher penalty amount to qualify as a state plan state.

-The maximum adjusted base penalty for a violation will be the maximum civil penalty established by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration under 29 C.F.R. 1903.15 or seven thousand dollars, whichever is more.

* No adjustments are made to minimum penalty amounts specified by statute.

Table 8

Employer Inspection History

History Assessment Penalty Adjustment
Above Average: Previous inspections with less than one serious violation on average and no willful, repeat, or failure to abate violations. -10%
Average: No previous inspections or inspections with less than two serious violations on average. None
Below Average: Previous inspections with willful, repeat, or failure to abate violations or inspections with two or more serious violations on average. +10%

* History is based on the prior three years statewide.

* No reduction is given for violations classified as willful, repeat, failure to abate, or violations contributing to an inpatient hospitalization with an assigned gravity of 6 or 9 or any violations contributing to a fatality.

Table 9

Good Faith

Good Faith Penalty Adjustment
Good -20%
Average None
Below Average +20%

Based on:

* Evidence of an overall safety and health program, including a written accident prevention program (APP), other required written programs, training, etc.

* Efforts to fully communicate safety and health policies.

* Employees are clearly involved in the safety and health programs.

* Management's commitment at all levels is apparent.

* Employer's injury and illness rate.

No reduction is given for violations classified as willful, repeat, or failure to abate.

Table 10

Abatement Quick-Fix Reduction

Immediate correction of hazard provided such corrective action is substantial and not temporary or superficial -15%

No reduction is given for:

* Violations classified as willful, repeat, or failure to abate.

* Violations contributing to an inpatient hospitalization or fatality, or to any incidents resulting in serious injuries to employees.

* Blatant violations that are easily corrected or "abated" due to the short-term duration of work at a specific location.

Table 11

Size of Workforce

Number of Employees Penalty Adjustment
1 - 10 -70%
11 - 25 -60%
26 - 100 -40%
101 - 250 -20%
251 or more None

Based on workforce size nationwide.

Wash. Admin. Code § 296-900-14015

Amended by WSR 15-13-049, Filed 6/9/2015, effective 9/1/2015
Amended by WSR 19-01-097, Filed 12/18/2018, effective 1/21/2019

Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 06-06-020, § 296-900-14015, filed 2/21/06, effective 6/1/06.