Wyoming has updated the maximum penalties in its Health and Safety Protection on the Job posting, announced Aug. 17.

The posting outlines the state’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, which provides job health and safety protection for workers employed across the state, with the exception of a few areas (e.g., ship repairing, ship building, ship breaking, long-shoring).

These maximum penalties, which increase Feb. 1, 2017, result from a Congressional act requiring federal agencies to index civil penalties by the inflation rate, with a one-time catch up provision. The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS), operating an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) state plan, is required to adopt maximum penalty levels that are at least as effective as federal OSHA penalties.

This marks the first federal OSHA penalty increase since 1990. The one-time catch-up will increase penalties by 78 percent – from $7,000-$70,000 to $12,471-$124,709 – and will be adjusted annually for inflation. Penalties assessed on or after Feb. 1, 2017 will be subject to the new fine structure, pending final approval of the rule by the OSHA Commission.

For details on the Wyoming Health and Safety Protection on the Job posting changes, updated maximum penalties, etc. see the Aug. 17 announcement.