HIGH PLAINS DAILY LEADER & TIMES

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, HIGH PLAINS DAILY LEADER & TIMES — a pulp, paper, and paperboard mills facility located at 16 S. KANSAS AVE., LIBERAL, KS 67901 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 1 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $1,400.00. The inspection case was opened on 2012-05-16.

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 3.3 per 100 full-time workers — 22% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 2.3 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $1,400.00 is 83% below the national average of $8,414.32 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 322122). This sector encompasses 52,095 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $438.3M.

State Context: Within KS, this facility's penalty places it at the 66th percentile among 19,826 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,225.89.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 1 citations spanning 1 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 1 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 June 18, 2012 with the latest abatement deadline set for July 10, 2012. Of the 1 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 total proposed penalty of $1,400.00 falls within OSHA's standard enforcement range and may have been adjusted through informal settlement conference procedures, penalty reduction factors, or good faith credit for demonstrated safety and health management systems.