ARAUJO CONSTRUCTION CORP.,
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, ARAUJO CONSTRUCTION CORP., — a construction facility located at BUILDING 65 PRAIRIE COURT, WHEELING, IL 60090 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 7 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $140,387.00. The inspection case was opened on 2022-09-14.
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.
Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $140,387.00 is more than 38.9× the national average of $3,609.14 for facilities in the Construction sector (NAICS 238130). This sector encompasses 532,749 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $1,922.8M.
State Context: Within IL, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 88,899 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,496.90.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 7 citations spanning 5 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. 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 repeat — A substantially similar violation was found during a previous inspection and the original citation has become a final order.
Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning October 31, 2022 with the latest abatement deadline set for Date Not Recorded. Of the 7 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 $20,055.29 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.
Araujo Construction Corp.’s enforcement record reveals a profound breakdown in fundamental safety leadership, characterized by a dangerous disregard for fall protection and structural access requirements. The assessment of a Willful violation under 1926.501(b)(13) is the most critical element of this inspection; it signifies that management acted with either intentional disregard for or plain indifference to the safety of workers engaged in residential construction. This specific classification elevates the legal risk for the firm, as it demonstrates that the hazard—exposure to life-threatening falls—was a known condition that went unaddressed. The penalty of $140,387 is significantly higher than the industry average for NAICS 238130, reflecting the gravity of the misconduct and the inclusion of Repeat violations for head protection, eye and face protection, and stairrail systems. The recurring nature of these citations suggests a systemic failure rather than isolated negligence. By failing to provide functional stairways, secure ladders, and essential personal protective equipment, the employer created a work environment where basic physical hazards were normalized. The presence of multiple Repeat violations indicates that previous OSHA interventions failed to catalyze a permanent change in safety culture. For workers, this environment meant navigating structural heights without the mandated fall arrest systems or guardrails, while simultaneously lacking the defensive gear necessary to mitigate impact injuries. This profile characterizes a high-risk employer whose operational model prioritizes speed or cost over the non-negotiable standards of federal safety law.