Hawaii OSHA Keeps Penalty Levels Unchanged for 2026
HIOSH announced that workplace safety and health penalty amounts will remain unchanged for 2026 after federal OSHA declined to issue an inflation-based increase this year.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Jun 04, 2026
The Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH) announced that workplace safety and health penalty amounts will remain unchanged for 2026, citing the absence of a federal OSHA inflation adjustment this year.
Under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act, state-plan states such as Hawaii are required to maintain penalty structures that are at least as effective as those established by federal OSHA. Because federal OSHA did not issue a 2026 adjustment, Hawaii's current penalty levels will remain in place.
As a result, the state's maximum penalties will continue at 2025 levels, including up to $16,550 per violation for serious and other-than-serious violations and up to $165,514 per violation for willful or repeated violations.
HIOSH said it will continue to monitor federal developments and provide updates if future changes to penalty amounts are required.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.