OSHA Severe Violator Program Focuses on Repeat Offenders

The new Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) is intended to focus OSHA enforcement resources on employers that show indifference to employee safety laws. The supplemental enforcement tool includes increased OSHA inspections in these worksites, including mandatory follow-up inspections and inspections of related worksites where similar hazards and deficiencies may be present.

High-emphasis hazards are targeted, including fall hazards and specific hazards identified from selected National Emphasis Programs.
Criteria for a Severe Violator Enforcement Case:

• A fatality/catastrophe inspection in which OSHA finds one or more willful or repeated violations or failure-to-abate notices based on a serious violation related to a death of an employee or three or more hospitalizations.


• An inspection in which OSHA finds two or more willful or repeated violations or failure-to-abate notices (or any combination of these), based on serious violations related to a High-Emphasis Hazard.


• An inspection in which OSHA finds three or more willful or repeated violations or failure-to-abate notices (or any combination of these), based on high-gravity serious violations related to highly hazardous chemicals, as defined in the PSM standard.

Willful and repeated citations and failure-to-abate notices must be based on serious violations, except for recordkeeping, which must be egregious.

• Read more at the OSHA website.
• Download the SVEP Directive (pdf file).
• Browse Machine and Process Safety signs at ComplianceSigns.com.