FIRM FOUNDATIONS, INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, FIRM FOUNDATIONS, INC. — a framing contractors facility located at 3214 IVY FARM PATH, BUFORD, GA 30519 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 3 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $50,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2018-08-10.

DOL records document workplace safety violations warranting formal citation under the OSH Act. While classified at the standard enforcement level, all OSHA citations require corrective action and may indicate areas where workplace safety programs should be strengthened.

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 $50,000.00 is more than 13.9× the national average of $3,609.14 for facilities in the Construction sector (NAICS 238130). This sector encompasses 532,749 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $1,922.8M.

State Context: Within GA, this facility's penalty places it at the 99th percentile among 48,956 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,799.18.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 3 citations spanning 3 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 2 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 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 October 17, 2018 with the latest abatement deadline set for November 13, 2018. Of the 3 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 per-citation average of $16,666.67 exceeds OSHA's FY2024 statutory maximum of $16,131 for serious violations, indicating the presence of willful or repeat classifications that carry enhanced penalty authority under Section 17 of the OSH Act.

Firm Foundations, Inc.’s enforcement record reveals a troubling pattern of non-compliance centered on high-risk residential construction hazards. The most significant finding is the Repeat violation of 1926.501(b)(13), which carries a disproportionately high penalty of $40,732 and a maximum gravity rating of 10. This indicates that the employer was previously cited for failing to provide adequate fall protection for employees working six feet or more above lower levels, yet failed to implement a sustainable safety program to rectify the hazard. In the context of NAICS 238130 (Framing Contractors), fall protection is the leading cause of fatalities; the Repeat designation suggests a systemic management failure rather than an isolated lapse, signaling to OSHA that the firm views safety protocols as optional rather than foundational. The accompanying Serious violations related to head and eye protection (1926.100 and 1926.102) further suggest a breakdown in basic personal protective equipment (PPE) enforcement. While the individual penalties for these items are consistent with standard industry gravity adjustments, their presence alongside a major fall protection Repeat violation paints a picture of a site where fundamental life-saving requirements were overlooked. For a framing contractor, this combination of citations reflects a high-risk operational environment where workers were exposed to both catastrophic fall potential and struck-by hazards simultaneously. The $50,000 total penalty serves as a significant financial deterrent, reflecting OSHA’s intent to penalize recidivism in an industry where fall-related negligence is frequently met with enhanced enforcement scrutiny.