CHANNEL FISH PROCESSING CO., INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, CHANNEL FISH PROCESSING CO., INC. — a fish and seafood merchant wholesalers facility located at 200 COMMERCE DRIVE, BRAINTREE, MA 02184 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 17 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $146,037.00. The inspection case was opened on 2019-09-11.

Cumulative penalties significantly exceed the national median for OSHA enforcement actions. The penalty amount suggests multiple high-gravity citations, indicating conditions that presented a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm to employees.

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.

EPA Environmental Record: The EPA shows no current violations for this facility. regulated under: Clean Water Act, RCRA Hazardous Waste. Source: EPA ECHO database.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $146,037.00 is more than 28.2× the national average of $5,185.75 for facilities in the Wholesale sector (NAICS 424460). This sector encompasses 30,869 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $160.1M.

State Context: Within MA, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 60,671 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,824.83.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 17 citations spanning 8 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 15 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 May 8, 2020 with the latest abatement deadline set for January 17, 2025. Of the 17 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 cumulative penalty of $146,037.00 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 $8,590.41 falls within the standard penalty range.

The inspection of Channel Fish Processing Co., Inc. revealed a critical breakdown in fundamental safety management systems, specifically regarding the control of hazardous energy (LOTO) and confined space entry. The assessment of a $60,000 penalty for 1910.147(c)(4)(i) indicates a high-gravity violation where the employer failed to develop or utilize specific procedures for de-energizing machinery. When coupled with the absence of periodic inspections and training, this pattern suggests a systemic failure rather than isolated negligence. For workers, these lapses created a high-probability risk of amputation or crushing injuries during routine maintenance or clearing of jams. The penalty total of $146,037 is significantly higher than the industry average for seafood wholesalers, signaling that OSHA identified aggravated risk factors. The concurrent violations of permit-required confined space standards (1910.146) further underscore a management culture that neglected "silent killers" such as atmospheric hazards or mechanical engulfment. Furthermore, the presence of 1910.1200 violations regarding chemical hazard communication and training suggests that employees were handling hazardous substances—likely refrigerants or industrial cleaners—without essential safety knowledge. Collectively, these citations depict a facility where technical safety programs existed only on paper, leaving floor personnel exposed to preventable, life-threatening industrial accidents due to a lack of institutional oversight and procedural rigor.