Which agency is responsible for imposing penalties for violations of safety regulations?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is indeed the agency tasked with enforcing safety regulations in the workplace, particularly regarding occupational health and safety standards. OSHA's primary role is to ensure safe working conditions for employees by setting and enforcing standards, providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. When violations are found, OSHA has the authority to impose penalties on employers who do not comply with the safety regulations set forth. This can include fines and other corrective measures aimed at ensuring that employees work in environments that meet safety standards.

While other agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT), have their own regulatory scope—addressing environmental issues and transportation safety, respectively—they do not focus specifically on workplace safety and health violations in the same way OSHA does. The North Carolina Department of Labor does address certain safety regulations at the state level, but OSHA is the federal agency primarily responsible for enforcing workplace safety laws and imposing penalties for violations.