Civil Penalties

The $7,000 vs. $25,000 Divide: How OSHA Penalty Caps Vary by State

Most people assume State-Plan OSHA programs are stricter than federal. The data says otherwise: the same serious violation is capped at $25,000 in California but just $7,000 in Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. Here is the verified 2026 penalty-cap map and why it matters.