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OROSHARecord
Violations

Other-than-Serious Violation

A violation that has a direct relationship to job safety and health but would not likely cause death or serious physical harm.

Other-than-Serious Violation is a term from U.S. workplace-safety regulation — typically a category in OSHA enforcement, a citation classification, or a worker-protection concept under the OSH Act. The definition here is the practical worker-facing meaning. Understanding Other-than-Serious Violation is part of reading OSHA enforcement records defensibly. Citation classifications (serious, willful, repeat, other-than-serious, de minimis) carry meaningfully different implications for both employers and workers, and the worker-relevant interpretation often differs from the strict legal definition.

Each company page on OSHARecord surfaces Other-than-Serious Violation-relevant data for that specific employer, so the general definition here translates into concrete enforcement-history detail on the per-employer pages workers actually use.

Reviewed by OSHARecord Editorial Team

What It Means

Other-than-Serious violations (sometimes called "Other" violations) carry discretionary penalties of up to $16,131 per violation (2026 inflation-adjusted). These violations involve hazards that have a direct relationship to workplace safety but are not expected to cause death or serious physical harm. Common examples include inadequate recordkeeping on the OSHA 300 log, failure to post required safety notices, minor housekeeping deficiencies, and incomplete training documentation. While individually these violations may seem minor, a pattern of Other-than-Serious violations can indicate broader safety management problems. Companies that cannot maintain basic compliance records often struggle with more significant safety requirements as well. On OSHARecord, Other violations are tracked in the otherCount field and contribute to the overall violation total, though they carry less weight in the Safety Score calculation than Serious or Willful violations. OSHA may choose not to impose a penalty for Other-than-Serious violations if the employer corrects the hazard promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Other-than-Serious Violation" mean in OSHA context?

A violation that has a direct relationship to job safety and health but would not likely cause death or serious physical harm.

Why does Other-than-Serious Violation matter for workplace safety?

Other-than-Serious violations (sometimes called "Other" violations) carry discretionary penalties of up to $16,131 per violation (2026 inflation-adjusted). These violations involve hazards that have a direct relationship to workplace safety but are not expected to cause death or serious physical har...

Related Terms

Serious Violation

A violation where a workplace hazard could cause death or serious physical harm and the employer knew or should have known about it.

Citation

A formal written notice issued by OSHA to an employer describing the specific violation, the standard violated, the proposed penalty, and the deadline for correction.

OSHA 300 Log

The official Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses that most employers are required to maintain and make available to OSHA inspectors.

Abatement

The corrective action an employer must take to eliminate or control a cited workplace hazard within the timeframe specified by OSHA.

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About This Data

Definitions based on OSHA standards, the OSH Act of 1970, and federal enforcement guidance. Penalty amounts reflect 2026 inflation-adjusted maximums. See our methodology.