COUNTY OF MAUI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT KIHEI WWTP

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, COUNTY OF MAUI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT KIHEI WWTP — a administration of air and water resource and solid waste management programs facility located at 480 WELAKAHAO STREET, KIHEI, HI 96753 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 16 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $30,420.00. The inspection case was opened on 2018-08-20.

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 4.4 per 100 full-time workers — 63% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 1.7 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $30,420.00 is more than 20.0× the national average of $1,518.52 for facilities in the Public Admin sector (NAICS 924110). This sector encompasses 25,943 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $39.4M.

State Context: Within HI, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 20,956 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $1,502.81.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 16 citations spanning 3 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 February 14, 2019 with the latest abatement deadline set for March 22, 2019. Of the 16 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 $30,420.00 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 $1,901.25 falls within the standard penalty range.

The inspection of the Kihei Wastewater Treatment Plant revealed a profound systemic collapse of Process Safety Management (PSM) protocols, signaling that the facility operated under a high risk of catastrophic chemical release. The sheer density of Serious violations under 29 CFR 1910.119—spanning Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), operating procedures, mechanical integrity, and management of change—indicates that the municipality failed to maintain the technical and administrative infrastructure necessary to contain highly hazardous chemicals, likely