COUSHATTA EMPIRE, INC.
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, COUSHATTA EMPIRE, INC. — a water and sewer line and related structures construction facility located at 1400 MLK JR. DRIVE & 200 NW FRONTAGE ROAD, LAFAYETTE, LA 70501 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 12 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $55,326.00. The inspection case was opened on 2002-11-14.
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 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 $55,326.00 is more than 15.3× the national average of $3,609.14 for facilities in the Construction sector (NAICS 237110). This sector encompasses 532,749 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $1,922.8M.
State Context: Within LA, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 19,587 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,582.10.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 12 citations spanning 4 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 8 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. 3 repeat — A substantially similar violation was found during a previous inspection and the original citation has become a final order.
Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning September 18, 2001 with the latest abatement deadline set for December 22, 2003. Of the 12 total citations, 11 (92%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, indicating substantial compliance with corrective action requirements.
Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $55,326.00 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 $4,610.50 falls within the standard penalty range.
Coushatta Empire, Inc.’s enforcement record reflects a systemic breakdown in excavation safety management, characterized by
This facility's $55,326 penalty is higher than 98% of all penalized companies in the NAICS 237110 industry in LA. The state average penalty for this industry is $8,730.
Comparing penalized facilities in LAFAYETTE, LA (Broader Sector)
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What OSHA violations was COUSHATTA EMPIRE, INC. cited for?
COUSHATTA EMPIRE, INC. received 12 citation(s) covering 4 distinct OSHA standards. Total proposed penalties were $55,326.00. The inspection opened on 2002-11-14.
How much was COUSHATTA EMPIRE, INC. fined by OSHA?
OSHA proposed penalties of $55,326.00 against COUSHATTA EMPIRE, INC. in LAFAYETTE, LA. Average per citation: $4,610.50.
Is COUSHATTA EMPIRE, INC. a safe workplace?
Based on enforcement records, COUSHATTA EMPIRE, INC. has a risk score of 77 out of 100. 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.
How does this penalty compare to the industry average?
The average penalty for Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction facilities is $3,609.14. This facility penalty of $55,326.00 is above the industry average.