The U.S. Department of Labor just overhauled OSHA’s penalty guidelines to give small employers and safety-conscious businesses a financial break. Effective immediately, the new policy:

• significantly increases penalty reductions for small businesses
• offers new incentives for employers who quickly fix hazards
• rewards companies with clean safety records

However, the agency still made clear in Monday’s announcement that it will maintain enforcement authority and hold employers accountable if they maintain unsafe work conditions, so yesterday’s news isn’t a get-out-of-jail-free card. Here’s what employers need to know, and five steps you can take to position yourself for this new development.

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