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OSHA’s mission is simple: protect workers from serious injury or death on the job.
While training, education, and compliance support are key parts of that mission, enforcement remains one of OSHA’s most powerful tools.
When companies repeatedly ignore safety standards or fail to correct known hazards, the consequences can be severe. In some cases, they’re historic.
Below, we break down the five largest OSHA fines ever issued, why they happened, and—most importantly—what today’s employers can learn from them.
Current OSHA Penalty Limits
Before diving into the cases, it’s important to understand how OSHA penalties work today.
As of 2025, OSHA’s maximum penalties are:
- Serious or Other-Than-Serious violations: up to $16,131 per violation
- Failure to Abate: up to $16,131 per day beyond the abatement date
- Willful or Repeated violations: up to $161,323 per violation
When multiple violations occur on a single job site or across multiple locations, fines can escalate quickly.
The Top 5 Largest OSHA Fines
#5 – Samsung Guam, Inc.
Date: September 21, 1995
Total OSHA penalty: $8.26 million
OSHA issued this fine after inspecting a construction project at Guam International Airport. Investigators cited 118 willful safety violations, many of which were tied to unsafe scaffolding and fall protection failures.
The inspection followed multiple serious incidents, including a fatal fall involving a 41-year-old welder who fell from unsecured steel decking. OSHA documented repeated fall hazards that had gone uncorrected.
Key takeaway:
Fall protection violations remain one of OSHA’s most frequently cited issues—especially in construction. Even decades later, falls are still a leading cause of workplace fatalities.
#4 – O&G Industries, Inc.
Date: August 3, 2010
Total OSHA penalty: $8.347 million
This fine stemmed from a 2010 explosion at a Connecticut power plant, which killed six workers and injured more than 50 others.
OSHA’s investigation found that workers were purging a natural gas line without following accepted industry procedures. According to OSHA, both company safety guidelines and basic safety practices were disregarded.
Key takeaway:
High-risk tasks require strict procedural compliance. Shortcuts—especially under deadline pressure—can have catastrophic consequences.
#3 – Imperial Sugar Company
Date: July 25, 2008
Total OSHA penalty: $8.78 million
After a combustible dust explosion at an Imperial Sugar refinery in Georgia killed 14 workers and injured dozens more, OSHA cited the company for failing to address known combustible dust hazards.
Follow-up inspections at other facilities revealed additional safety violations, reinforcing OSHA’s conclusion that hazards were systemic—not isolated.
Key takeaway:
Known hazards that aren’t proactively addressed often lead to repeat violations and significantly higher penalties.
#2 – IMC Fertilizer / Angus Chemical
Date: October 10, 1991
Total OSHA penalty: $11.55 million
This case followed a 1991 explosion at a fertilizer plant in Louisiana that killed eight workers and injured more than 120 others.
OSHA alleged that over 200 employees were exposed to fire and explosion risks due to improper safety controls. While the final settlement reduced the penalty slightly, it still set a record at the time.
Key takeaway:
Process safety failures (especially in chemical and industrial environments) carry massive human and financial risk.
#1 – BP Products North America
Dates: 2005 and 2009
Total OSHA penalties: $102.7 million
This remains the largest OSHA fine in U.S. history.
Following a 2005 refinery explosion in Texas City that killed 15 workers and injured 170 others, BP entered into a settlement agreement with OSHA to correct safety hazards.
However, subsequent inspections in 2009 found that many of those hazards remained uncorrected. OSHA cited BP for failing to uphold its commitments, resulting in over $100 million in combined penalties.
Key takeaway:
Failure to follow through on corrective actions can cost far more than the original violation—and permanently damage trust with regulators and workers alike.
What These OSHA Fines Mean for Today’s Employers
While some of these cases date back decades, the lessons are more relevant than ever.
Today’s job sites face:
- Tight project timelines
- Labor shortages
- High worker turnover
- Increased regulatory scrutiny
Cutting corners on safety doesn’t just risk fines—it puts your workforce, reputation, and operations at risk.
A strong safety culture starts with:
- Proper training
- Clear procedures
- Consistent enforcement
- Workers who understand and respect safety standards
FAQs: OSHA Fines & Workplace Safety
Q. What is the largest OSHA fine ever issued?
A. The largest OSHA fine in U.S. history was issued to BP Products North America, totaling $102.7 million, following repeated safety violations at its Texas City refinery.
Q. What causes OSHA fines to increase so dramatically?
A. OSHA fines increase when violations are willful, repeated, or left uncorrected. Multiple violations across a single site—or multiple sites—can quickly escalate penalties.
Q. What are the most common OSHA violations today?
A. Common OSHA violations include fall protection failures, hazard communication issues, unsafe scaffolding, inadequate training, and failure to provide proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
Q. How can employers reduce the risk of OSHA fines?
A. Employers can reduce risk by investing in safety training, conducting regular audits, correcting hazards promptly, and ensuring workers understand and follow safety protocols.
Q. Does staffing impact job site safety?
A. Yes. Workers who are properly screened, trained, and matched to the right roles are more likely to follow safety procedures and reduce incident rates.
Building Safer Job Sites Starts With the Right Workforce
At Spec on the Job, we know safety doesn’t start on the job site—it starts with who you bring onto it. That’s why we go far beyond simply filling roles. Every candidate we place is thoroughly vetted for qualifications, experience, and compliance before they ever set foot on your site.
Our process includes in-depth screening, verification of skills and certifications, background and reference checks, and a strong emphasis on safety awareness.
The result? Workers who understand job site expectations, follow procedures, and contribute to a safer, more productive environment from day one.
When you partner with Spec on the Job, you’re not just getting workers—you’re gaining a workforce strategy designed to reduce risk, prevent costly delays, and keep your operations running smoothly.
