Violations related to respiratory protection are consistently among the most frequently cited by OSHA. OSHA related fines for lack of respirator compliance can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the severity of the violation and an employer’s history.

Violation types and penalties

The penalty structure for a lack of respirator compliance depends on the type of violation:

• Serious: Up to $16,550 per violation, issued when an employer knows or should know about a hazard that can cause serious injury or death but fails to correct it.
• Willful or Repeated: Up to $165,514 per violation, for intentional violations or for repeat offenses of a similar nature.
• Other-than-serious: Up to $16,550 per violation, for infractions that have a direct impact on safety but are not likely to cause death or serious injury.
• Failure to Abate: Up to $16,550 per day past the abatement date, for failing to correct a violation by the specified deadline.