# The $16,550 Mistake: Understanding HazCom Penalties in 2026
Effective January 15, 2026, OSHA civil penalties have increased to account for inflation, making non-compliance more expensive than ever before. Hazard Communication (1910.1200) is consistently the #2 most cited standard across all industries. The fines are no longer a "cost of doing business"—they are a threat to solvency for small contractors.
2026 Penalty Structure
Serious Violation: Max $16,550 per violation. This applies if there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a condition the employer knew (or should have known) about. Missing an SDS for a known carcinogen or a corrosive acid often falls into this category.
Other-Than-Serious: Max $16,550. While often assessed at lower amounts, these can stack up quickly. A missing label on a spray bottle? That's a violation. Multiple bottles? Multiple violations.
Willful / Repeated: Max $165,514. If you were cited for HazCom issues in 2024 and haven't fixed them, or if you blatantly ignore the rules (e.g., "we don't have time for training"), OSHA can hit you with this massive multiplier.
Failure to Abate: Max $16,550 per day. If you don't fix the violation by the deadline, the daily fines accumulate rapidly.
Why HazCom is Cited So Often
HazCom citations are considered "low hanging fruit" for inspectors because they are easy to spot and document.
Visual Cues: An unlabelled bottle on a workbench is visible from 20 feet away.
Missing Program: Asking "Where is your written HazCom program?" is usually the first question. If you don't have it, that's an instant citation.
Bad Inventory: Inspectors pick a random chemical on the shelf and ask for the SDS. If you can't find it within a reasonable time, you are cited for accessibility failures.
Avoiding the Fine
The only way to avoid these penalties is audit readiness. You cannot wait for the inspector to arrive. You