Proposed Penalties And The Failure To Pay Penalties

(1) As used in this chapter the word “penalty” shall be defined as the monetary assessment levied against an employer as a result of a violation of the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1972 or a violation of the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health standards or rules. (2) In accordance with the provisions of T.C.A. §50-3-402, the Commissioner shall determine the amount of any proposed penalty giving due consideration to the appropriateness of the penalty with respect to the size of the business of the employer being charged, the gravity of the violation, the good faith of the employer, and the employer’s history of previous violations, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH INSPECTIONS, CHAPTER 0800-01-04 CITATIONS AND PROPOSED PENALTIES (3) Whenever the Commissioner has determined that such a penalty should be assessed against an employer, the Commissioner shall issue written notification to the employer stating the amount of the penalty to be assessed, the reason for the assessment which may be done by reference to citations issued prior to or simultaneously with such notification. Any notification of proposed penalty shall state that the proposed penalty shall be deemed to be a final order of the Commissioner and not subject to further review unless, within twenty (20) days from the date of receipt of such notice, the employer contests the penalty. See Rule 0800-01-04- .18. (4) Appropriate penalties may be proposed with respect to an alleged violation even if an employer immediately abates or initiates steps to abate the alleged violation. Penalties shall not be proposed for de minimis violations which have no direct or immediate relationship to safety or health. (5) Uncontested penalties are due payable from the employer within thirty (30) days of the date of receipt of the original or amended Citation and Notification of Penalty. (a) Payments shall be made by check or money order payable to “Treasurer, State of Tennessee” and may be delivered in person or mailed to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Occupational Safety and Health. (b) Payments should clearly identify the inspection number to which they apply. (c) Payments shall be credited on the day of receipt if delivered in person or the postmarked date if remitted by mail. (6) Interest. (a) Interest calculated at the rate established pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-1-801(a)(1) shall accrue against the penalty, or portion thereof, that remains unpaid after 30 days from the date of receipt of the Citation and Notification of Penalty. (b) Interest shall be added in thirty (30) day increments until the full penalty payment is received. (7) Delinquent Fees. (a) A delinquent fee of ten percent (10%) of the unpaid penalty, or portion thereof, that remains unpaid after thirty (30) days from the date of receipt by the employer, shall be added to the balance due. (b) A delinquent fee of ten percent (10%) of the unpaid penalty, or portion thereof, that remains unpaid after sixty (60) days from the date of receipt by the employer, shall be added to the balance due. (c) A delinquent fee of ten percent (10%) of the unpaid penalty, or portion thereof, that remains unpaid after ninety (90) days from the date of receipt by the employer, shall be added to the balance due. (d) The total delinquent fee shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the original penalty assessment. (e) The delinquent fee shall be considered part of the total assessment against the employer and shall be collectible in the same manner as the penalty. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH INSPECTIONS, CHAPTER 0800-01-04 CITATIONS AND PROPOSED PENALTIES (8) Administrative Fee. (a) Any payment instrument that is returned by a financial institution due to insufficient funds or the issuance of a stop payment order shall have a thirty dollar ($30.00) administrative fee added to the balance due. (b) The administrative fee shall be considered part of the total assessment against the employer and shall be collected in the same manner as the penalty. (c) A certified letter requesting payment in-full for the total unpaid balance including the original penalty amount, the administrative fee and any accrued interest and delinquent fees shall be sent to the employer with a return receipt request. (9) Payments. (a) All payments shall first be applied to the unpaid penalty. (b) Payments made to an account that include interest and delinquent fees: 1. If the payment amount is equal to the unpaid penalty, the full payment shall be applied to the unpaid penalty. 2. If the payment amount is greater than the unpaid penalty, the payment shall first be applied to the unpaid penalty and the excess amount shall be applied to the interest and delinquent fee balance due. 3. If the payment amount is less than the original penalty, the full amount of the payment shall be applied to the original penalty. (c) If the payment amount is insufficient, the employer shall be notified of the outstanding balance due.