COOK'S SIMPLE PAINTING, INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, COOK'S SIMPLE PAINTING, INC. — a painting and wall covering contractors facility located at 1117 MAIN STREET, READING, MA 01867 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 13 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $5,250.50. The inspection case was opened on 2005-06-14.

The volume of citations issued during this inspection suggests systematic compliance deficiencies rather than isolated incidents. Facilities with 10 or more citations typically face comprehensive abatement requirements and may be subject to follow-up inspections.

BLS Injury Data: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), this industry sector has an occupational injury rate of 2.8 per 100 full-time workers — 4% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 9.6 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $5,250.50 is 45% above the national average of $3,609.14 for facilities in the Construction sector (NAICS 238320). This sector encompasses 532,749 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $1,922.8M.

State Context: Within MA, this facility's penalty places it at the 87th percentile among 60,671 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,824.83.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 13 citations spanning 5 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 13 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 September 23, 2005 with the latest abatement deadline set for November 25, 2005. Of the 13 total citations, 9 (69%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, suggesting partial progress toward required corrective actions.

Penalty Assessment: The total proposed penalty of $5,250.50 falls within OSHA's standard enforcement range and may have been adjusted through informal settlement conference procedures, penalty reduction factors, or good faith credit for demonstrated safety and health management systems.