AMOCO WHITING LUBE PLANT

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, AMOCO WHITING LUBE PLANT — a industry sector 00 facility located at 2300 STANDARD AVENUE, WHITING, IN 46394 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 7 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $44,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 1989-08-03.

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.

State Context: Within IN, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 60,580 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $1,266.78.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 7 citations spanning 2 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 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. 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 January 24, 1990 with the latest abatement deadline set for January 31, 1991. Of the 7 total citations, 7 (100%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, indicating substantial compliance with corrective action requirements.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $44,000.00 reflects OSHA's gravity-based penalty calculation methodology, which considers the severity of potential injury, the probability of occurrence, the employer's size, good faith, and violation history. The per-citation average of $6,285.71 falls within the standard penalty range.

The 1989 inspection of the Amoco Whiting Lube Plant revealed a systemic and profound breakdown in Hazard Communication (HazCom) protocols, characterized by a staggering four willful violations. By issuing the maximum statutory penalties of $10,000 for multiple items—a significant sum for the era—OSHA signaled that the facility demonstrated either intentional disregard for the law or plain indifference to worker safety. The concentration of citations under 29 CFR