142787 - INDUSTRIAL FABRICATORS, INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, 142787 - INDUSTRIAL FABRICATORS, INC. — a fabricated structural metal manufacturing facility located at 4328 S. YORK HIGHWAY, GASTONIA, NC 28052 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 4 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $84,500.00. The inspection case was opened on 2019-07-02.

Federal investigators determined that one or more violations at this facility were committed willfully — meaning the employer either knowingly failed to comply with OSHA standards or acted with plain indifference to employee safety. Willful violations carry the highest penalty multipliers under the OSH Act.

BLS Injury Data: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), this industry sector has an occupational injury rate of 3.3 per 100 full-time workers — 22% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 2.3 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $84,500.00 is more than 13.1× the national average of $6,436.62 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 332312). This sector encompasses 82,943 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $533.9M.

State Context: Within NC, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 88,256 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $1,699.39.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 4 citations spanning 3 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 1 willful — The employer intentionally and knowingly committed the violation, demonstrating either an intentional disregard for the requirements of the OSH Act or plain indifference to employee safety and health. 3 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition.

Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning October 30, 2019 with the latest abatement deadline set for December 19, 2019. Of the 4 total citations, 0 (0%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.

Penalty Assessment: The per-citation average of $21,125.00 exceeds OSHA's FY2024 statutory maximum of $16,131 for serious violations, indicating the presence of willful or repeat classifications that carry enhanced penalty authority under Section 17 of the OSH Act.

The enforcement record for Industrial Fabricators, Inc. reveals a hazardous operational environment characterized by a profound disregard for