GUARDIAN FOUNDATION REPAIR, LLC

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, GUARDIAN FOUNDATION REPAIR, LLC — a other foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors facility located at 5304 HICKORY HOLLOW ROAD, KNOXVILLE, TN 37919 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 24 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $28,880.00. The inspection case was opened on 2020-07-27.

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 $28,880.00 is more than 8.0× the national average of $3,609.14 for facilities in the Construction sector (NAICS 238190). This sector encompasses 532,749 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $1,922.8M.

State Context: Within TN, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 40,481 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $1,620.08.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 24 citations spanning 7 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 September 22, 2020 with the latest abatement deadline set for February 10, 2021. Of the 24 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 $28,880.00 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 $1,203.33 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement profile for Guardian Foundation Repair, LLC reveals a systemic failure to manage high-risk physical and chemical hazards typical of foundation stabilization work. The citation density, totaling 24 violations, underscores a breakdown in fundamental safety oversight rather than isolated technical lapses. The most critical findings centered on excavation standards (1926.651 and 1926.652), where gravity ratings of 8 and 9 indicate a high probability of catastrophic injury or death from trench cave-ins. By failing to provide adequate protective systems or ensure inspections by a competent person, the employer exposed workers