As of August 1, 2016, new maximum civil penalties are in
place according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Announced
June 30, 2016, the US Department of Labor unveiled an interim final rule
showcasing an increase in civil penalties that can lead to additional penalties
under the Longshore & Harbor workers Compensation Act (USL&H), and its
extensions the Defense Base Act (DBA), the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
(OCSLA), and non appropriated Fund Instrumentalities Act (NAFIA).
These penalties were exempt from the prior inflation
adjustment act, so the agency’s penalties have not increased since 1990. By
applying the 2015 Inflation Adjustment Act for the first time, Congress
effectively directed DOL to account for more than 35 years of missed inflation
adjustments in one step. Accordingly, adjusting for inflation now results in a
substantial increase in one step!