Top OSHA Fines of 2025: A Clear Message on Repeat Violations

In 2025, OSHA significantly escalated enforcement actions against employers with a history of non-compliance. A common theme among the year’s highest penalties was repeat and willful violations, particularly cases where employers failed to correct known hazards after previous inspections, citations, or fatalities. The following cases highlight the steep financial and human costs of ignoring established safety requirements.

Sound Construction Inc. – $1.22 Million

The highest proposed penalty of the year was issued to Sound Construction Inc., a concrete and earthwork contractor based in Easton, Connecticut. Following inspections at worksites in New Canaan and Stamford, OSHA proposed $1,224,798 in penalties after identifying seven willful and four serious violations.

The June 2025 follow-up inspection revealed continued exposure of workers to dangerous trenching and excavation hazards, including a lack of cave-in protection and failure to conduct required daily inspections. These violations were particularly concerning given that the company was already operating under a settlement agreement related to a fatal trench collapse in 2023. OSHA classified the case as a clear example of repeat non-compliance despite prior enforcement actions.

Read more here: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2025/12/19/851494.htm

Taylor Farms New Jersey Inc. – $1.13 Million

Taylor Farms New Jersey Inc., a fresh-cut vegetable processor in Swedesboro, New Jersey, received $1,125,484 in proposed penalties following a fatal incident in May 2025. A worker was killed while cleaning and sanitizing processing equipment that unexpectedly energized during maintenance.

OSHA cited the company for 16 violations, primarily related to systemic failures in lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures. The investigation found that the employer failed to implement effective energy-control programs and did not adequately train employees on LOTO requirements—critical safeguards intended to prevent exactly this type of incident.

Read more here: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20251124

Virginia Transformer Corp. – $986,888

In Pocatello, Idaho, Virginia Transformer Corp. was cited for $986,888 after OSHA identified 53 serious and repeat violations during a June 2025 inspection. Many of the hazards were the same as those cited during inspections conducted in 2024.

Violations included unsafe crane operations involving faulty brakes and switches, inadequate machine guarding, unprotected fall hazards, and failure to provide required personal protective equipment (PPE). OSHA noted that the employer had not taken sufficient steps to correct previously identified hazards, leading to the elevated penalty.

Read more here: https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/san-francisco/20251208

Florida Painting Contractor – Over $900,000

A Florida-based painting contractor was assessed more than $900,000 in proposed penalties following a fatal incident in Savannah, Georgia, where a worker drowned while performing work over a river.

OSHA determined that the employer willfully exposed workers to both fall and drowning hazards by failing to implement appropriate safety controls. The investigation found that workers were operating over water without adequate fall protection, flotation devices, or rescue planning—basic safeguards required for this type of work environment.

Read more here: https://www.businessinsurance.com/osha-issues-more-than-900000-in-penalties-after-worker-drowns-in-georgia-river/

New Horizons Baking Co. – $394,849

In December 2025, New Horizons Baking Co., a commercial bakery in Columbus, Ohio, received $394,849 in proposed penalties. OSHA cited the company for three repeat and nine serious violations involving chemical exposure and mechanical hazards.

Repeat violations included failures to train employees on lockout/tagout procedures, failure to properly lock out equipment during servicing, and inadequate machine guarding. These deficiencies repeatedly exposed workers to pinch-point and caught-in hazards, despite previous enforcement actions.

Read more here: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20251216

Key Takeaway

OSHA’s largest penalties of 2025 reinforce a consistent message: employers who fail to correct known hazards—especially after prior citations or fatalities—can expect aggressive enforcement. Robust hazard correction, effective training, and ongoing compliance audits remain essential to protecting workers and avoiding costly penalties.