CARLSON WELL SERVICE

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, CARLSON WELL SERVICE — a support activities for oil and gas operations facility located at KLINE 5300-11-18H, ALEXANDER, ND 58831 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 3 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $63,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2011-09-15.

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 1.7 per 100 full-time workers — near the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 12.1 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $63,000.00 is more than 10.7× the national average of $5,862.45 for facilities in the Mining sector (NAICS 213112). This sector encompasses 7,019 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $41.1M.

State Context: Within ND, this facility's penalty places it at the 99th percentile among 7,285 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,884.40.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 3 citations spanning 1 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. 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.

Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning March 8, 2012 with the latest abatement deadline set for March 26, 2012. Of the 3 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 $21,000.00 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 action against Carlson Well Service underscores a profound management failure to address high-gravity hazards inherent