OSHA Citation
A formal notice of violation issued by OSHA after an inspection finds safety or health standards have been violated.
Key Facts
- Willful violations: up to $165,514 per violation
- Serious/Other-Than-Serious: up to $16,551 per violation
- 15 working days to formally contest a citation
- Citations must be posted near the violation location
OSHA citations describe the violation, the standard violated, proposed penalties, and the required abatement date. Citation types include: Willful (up to $165,514 per violation), Repeat (up to $165,514), Serious (up to $16,551), Other-Than-Serious (up to $16,551), and Failure to Abate (up to $16,551 per day). Employers have 15 working days to contest a citation. Citations must be posted near the location of the violation for 3 working days or until the hazard is corrected, whichever is longer.
OSHA Compliance Records Compared
Key OSHA recordkeeping and enforcement concepts employers must understand.
| Type | What It Is | Who Maintains | Reporting Trigger | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSHA 300 Log | Injury & illness record | Employers (10+ employees) | Recordable incident occurs | 5 years |
| Recordable Incident | Work-related injury/illness | Recorded on the 300 Log | Medical treatment beyond first aid | N/A (logged on 300) |
| OSHA Citation | Notice of violation | Issued by OSHA | Inspection finds violation | Until abated |
Related Services
Related Industries
Simplify Your Compliance
BlueHive manages occupational health services so you can focus on your workforce.