The reality is undeniable: many dealers and repair shops are failing to adequately recognize and mitigate the greatest sources of workforce risk. Countless preventable incidents are occurring, causing needless injuries, illnesses, and—in some cases—deaths.

Dealers are paying a significant toll.

OSHA penalties can exceed $16,131 per violation—and as much per day for every day the issue hasn’t been fixed by OSHA’s deadline. The fine for a willful or repeated violation can be 10 times as much.

And those are just the direct costs. Organizations that don’t adequately address common workplace hazards can expect to pay hundreds of thousands—even millions—in indirect expenses such as the following:

• workers’ compensation claims from people who have experienced injuries and illnesses
• lost productivity during and after an incident
• lowered workforce morale due to fear and uncertainty around risk areas
• hours of labor spent identifying and fixing the issue
• expenses of cleaning and replacing equipment that’s out-of-date, damaged or broken
• legal and compliance fees
• negative publicity and reputational damage

Of course, the true costs of a safety violation are incalculable. No one can put a number on an employee’s life. Suffice it to say, it’s in your best interest to bring your annual number of injuries and illnesses to zero.

Fortunately, avoiding an OSHA citation isn’t as complex or cost-intensive as many people think. Small steps can save you 6 or 7 figures—or even save someone’s life.