EDWARDS EQUIPMENT SALES, INC.
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, EDWARDS EQUIPMENT SALES, INC. — a industrial machinery and equipment merchant wholesalers facility located at 321 CITATION COURT WEST, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35211 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 56 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $69,291.60. The inspection case was opened on 2017-09-06.
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: RCRA Hazardous Waste. Source: EPA ECHO database.
Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $69,291.60 is more than 13.4× the national average of $5,185.75 for facilities in the Wholesale sector (NAICS 423830). This sector encompasses 30,869 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $160.1M.
State Context: Within AL, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 30,935 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,893.70.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 56 citations spanning 8 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 12 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition. 3 other-than-serious — The violation has a direct relationship to job safety and health but is unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm.
Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning March 5, 1993 with the latest abatement deadline set for July 19, 1993. Of the 56 total citations, 15 (27%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.
Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $69,291.60 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 $1,237.35 falls within the standard penalty range.
The enforcement record for Edwards Equipment Sales, Inc. reveals a profound systemic collapse of safety management, characterized by an extraordinary volume of 56 citations totaling nearly $70,000 in penalties. While the facility operates under a merchant wholesaler NAICS code, the citation patterns—specifically those involving spray finishing (1910.107), welding (1910.254), and lead exposure
This facility's $69,292 penalty is higher than 99% of all penalized companies in the NAICS 423830 industry in AL. The state average penalty for this industry is $12,358.
Comparing penalized facilities in BIRMINGHAM, AL (Exact Industry)
Explore more: OSHA enforcement in BIRMINGHAM · Alabama data · Search the database · Incident Rate Calculator
What OSHA violations was EDWARDS EQUIPMENT SALES, INC. cited for?
EDWARDS EQUIPMENT SALES, INC. received 56 citation(s) covering 8 distinct OSHA standards. Total proposed penalties were $69,291.60. The inspection opened on 2017-09-06.
How much was EDWARDS EQUIPMENT SALES, INC. fined by OSHA?
OSHA proposed penalties of $69,291.60 against EDWARDS EQUIPMENT SALES, INC. in BIRMINGHAM, AL. Average per citation: $1,237.35.
Is EDWARDS EQUIPMENT SALES, INC. a safe workplace?
Based on enforcement records, EDWARDS EQUIPMENT SALES, INC. has a risk score of 38 out of 100. 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.
How does this penalty compare to the industry average?
The average penalty for Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers facilities is $5,185.75. This facility penalty of $69,291.60 is above the industry average.