97526 - MEADOWLAND FARMERS COOP

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, 97526 - MEADOWLAND FARMERS COOP — a grain and field bean merchant wholesalers facility located at 109 1ST AVE W, LAMBERTON, MN 56152 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 6 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $232,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2018-05-21.

This facility represents one of the most severe enforcement actions in the OSHA SVEP database. Willful violations combined with penalties exceeding $100,000 indicate a pattern of deliberate non-compliance that poses an imminent danger to workers.

BLS Injury Data: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), this industry sector has an occupational injury rate of 2.6 per 100 full-time workers — near the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 4.4 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $232,000.00 is more than 44.7× the national average of $5,185.75 for facilities in the Wholesale sector (NAICS 424510). This sector encompasses 30,869 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $160.1M.

State Context: Within MN, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 58,337 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $1,403.06.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 6 citations spanning 2 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 2 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition. 4 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.

Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning November 15, 2018 with the latest abatement deadline set for May 22, 2019. Of the 6 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 $38,666.67 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 action against Meadowland Farmers Coop reveals a catastrophic failure in grain bin entry protocols, characterized by a staggering four willful violations under the 1910.272 standard.