Top Ten Biggest OSHA Fines of 2024

Over the fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 – September 2024), OSHA has issued thousands of fines to employers with unsafe work practices. The costs of safety violations can snowball, especially after OSHA increased the maximum penalty amounts in January of 2024.
The following ten companies received the largest OSHA fines for a single incident (or series of related incidents) that endangered their staff. This information was cumulated by Safety and Health Magazine.
The Biggest OSHA Fines
Jindal Tubular USA LLC’s $536,262 Fine
This pipe and tube manufacturer triggered an investigation after a fatality occurred. One worker died, and another lost both his legs after a steel pipe rolled over both workers. OSHA concluded that Jindal Tubular failed to establish safe practices for storing and stacking pipes.
In addition to the hefty fine, the company was required to hire a third party to develop a new safety program and perform monthly audits to be shared with the agency.
Legacy Cooperative’s $536,965 Fine
Following a complaint filed against this grain cooperative, OSHA found that the employer allowed the flammable grain dust to accumulate in housekeeping areas. The dust had notably built up in the bottom belt of the elevators, where friction could have easily ignited it and resulted in destructive fires or explosions.
OSHA also found the dust collection systems were improperly maintained. Duct tape had been placed in the bottom belt tunnel, which was ineffectively collecting dust.
CJ TMI Manufacturing America LLC’s $551,719 Fine
OSHA was referred in the wake of an employee suffering an amputation. The agency discovered that the frozen food manufacturer continuously exposed staff to lockout / tagout hazards (the release of energy during maintenance, repair, or other non-operational tasks), which led to their injuries.
CJ TMI Manufacturing America was placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program in 2021 after several repeated violations.
Qualawash Holding LLC’s $810,703 Fine
After a fatality occurred on-site, OSHA investigated the tank cleaning contractor. They found the company failed to complete atmospheric testing before the employee entered the tank, who died from inhaling hazardous gasses.
Qualawash Holding LLC had previously received citations for the same safety violations in 2020. Two employees died in 2019 from exposure to toxic fumes, prompting OSHA to give a more penalizing fee.
Adrian Construction Group LLC’s $1,017,248 Fine
During a routine inspection of the framing contractor, OSHA handed the company multiple citations for its unsafe practices. Adrian Construction Group LLC failed to provide or ensure the usage of fall protection, eye protection, and hard hats.
On top of the million-dollar fee, the company was subsequently placed in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
Florenza Marble & Granite Corp.’s $1,019,096 Fine
A referral informed OSHA that a worker needed a double lung transplant from accelerated silicosis. Following the inspection, the agency handed the stone product manufacturer dozens of citations, most of which involved the improper usage of respirators and unsafe levels of silica dust — 500% over the permissible limit.
Further investigation revealed that Florenza Marble & Granite Corp. failed to develop a safety program, even after the compensation insurance carriers refused to insure two workers due to a lack of one.
Giant Construction Corp.’s $1,038,918 Fine
OSHA cited the sewer line company over ten citations throughout a planned inspection. Employees were exposed to potentially fatal trench hazards without being provided with the proper safety equipment.
Giant Construction Corp. received such a hefty fine because the employer frequently failed inspections for similar violations.
Florence Hardwoods LLC’s $1.3 Million Fine
After a 16-year-old employee sustained injuries that ultimately ended his life, OSHA promptly investigated the sawmill company. The agency discovered the sawmill company illegally allowed children to operate dangerous machinery and failed to provide proper training for these workers.
The mill’s operator fired all of the children the day after the teen’s death. OSHA also enrolled Florence Hardwoods LLC in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
Wagner Construction Inc.’s $1.8 Million Fine
During a regular inspection of the water line company, OSHA handed out sixteen repeat violations and one serious violation. The employer did not provide adequate protective systems and equipment for the excavation hazards workers were exposed to.
Because Wagner Construction previously signed a 2021 settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor — which included a promise to protect its employees from potentially deadly trenching and excavation hazards — OSHA’s proposed fee was especially punishing.
MDLG Inc.’s $2.5 Million Fine
Following the fatality of a supervisor on-site, OSHA concluded that the sawmill company failed to protect its staff from its hazardous equipment. The supervisor had climbed on top of an auger to unclog a difficult-to-reach area of the wood chipper, which restarted while they were on top.
MDLG was enrolled in the Severe Violators Enforcement Program in 2020 for its unsafe work practices. Since this was the company’s third preventable fatality in the past five years, OSHA handed the company the largest fine in 2024’s fiscal year.
Takeaways from the OSHA Fines
Most of these employers have promised to adopt better practices in the future, but it’s hard to take their word for it. Do you really think these companies will suddenly change their ways?
Probably not. When employers allow disasters to strike, they lose more than just capital. They lose the trust of their staff, clients, and community.
Instead of waiting for and reacting to safety problems, we should act proactively. Our systems should continuously detect the warning signs of an issue before it snowballs into an OSHA inspection.
If you’re interested in implementing a proactive safety program, read about how safety professionals use TapRooT® Root Cause Analysis. You can also connect with other industry experts at the Global TapRooT® Summit.