BERGSTROM MANUFACTURING, INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, BERGSTROM MANUFACTURING, INC. — a industry sector 00 facility located at 602 E. BLACKHAWK DR., BYRON, IL 61010 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 78 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $191,425.00. The inspection case was opened on 1994-03-24.

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 $191,425.00 is more than 160.1× the national average of $1,195.75 for facilities in the Other sector (NAICS 000000). This sector encompasses 1,316,687 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $1,574.4M.

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 78 citations spanning 8 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 5 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 other-than-serious — The violation has a direct relationship to job safety and health but is unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm. 7 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 January 7, 1998 with the latest abatement deadline set for March 11, 1998. Of the 78 total citations, 12 (15%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $191,425.00 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 $2,454.17 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement record for Bergstrom Manufacturing, Inc. reveals a profound breakdown in fundamental safety management systems, specifically regarding Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout). The assessment of multiple Willful (W) violations under 1910.147 signifies that management demonstrated either an intentional disregard for OSHA requirements or a plain indifference to employee safety. This distinction is critical; legally, it elevates the company’s liability by proving they were aware of the life-threatening risks associated with unexpected machine startup but failed to implement mandated safeguards. The gravity ratings of 10 for these violations, coupled with a substantial penalty exceeding $191,000, indicate that inspectors identified a high probability of catastrophic injury or fatality. The concentration of citations across 1910.147 (Lockout/Tagout), 1910.217 (Mechanical Power Presses), and 1910.333 (Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices) establishes a clear pattern of systemic failure in protecting workers during maintenance and production cycles. Rather than isolated lapses, the data suggests a pervasive culture of non-compliance where employees were routinely exposed to amputation hazards and electrocution. Compared to industry averages for the 1990s, the penalty total is exceptionally high, reflecting the egregious nature of the omissions. The lack of adequate training (1910.147(c)(7)) and failure to conduct periodic inspections (1910.147(c)(6)) further confirm that the facility lacked the necessary administrative infrastructure to sustain a safe work environment, prioritizing operational throughput over basic regulatory mandates.