OSHA Penalties for In-State Employers Drop 50% from 2011 to 2015

Tuesday, December 20, 2016 | 0

Federal work safety inspections are down in Connecticut, mirroring a trend happening nationally, the Hartford Courant newspaper reports.

The number of inspections in Connecticut dropped 10% this year. 

In Connecticut, there were 1,009 safety inspections by Occupational Safety and Health Administration personnel in 2013, 908 in 2015 and 819 in 2016, as of Nov. 10.

The number of OSHA inspections happening nationally decreased from 40,993 in 2010 to 35,820 in 2015. The number of violations cited by the agency dropped 33% during that time.

Penalties against Connecticut employers have dropped by more than 50% between 2011 and 2015, the Courant reports.

Data from OSHA's Bridgeport and Hartford offices show penalties totaled $10.9 million in 2011 and dropped to $5.1 million in 2015. Companies paid just $3.5 million in 2015 after negotiating lower settlement amounts. 

Overall, fines have continued to decrease in 2016, data shows.

Government officials point to safer workplaces as the reason behind the trend, while labor leaders say employers are underreporting injuries.

Read the Hartford Courant's story here.