HP PELZER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, HP PELZER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC — a manufacturing facility located at 1884 WARRENTON HWY, THOMSON, GA 30824 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 41 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $128,760.40. The inspection case was opened on 2018-06-20.
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.
Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $128,760.40 is more than 20.0× the national average of $6,436.62 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 336399). This sector encompasses 82,943 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $533.9M.
State Context: Within GA, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 48,956 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,799.18.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 41 citations spanning 9 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 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 March 6, 2009 with the latest abatement deadline set for June 1, 2009. Of the 41 total citations, 15 (37%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.
Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $128,760.40 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 $3,140.50 falls within the standard penalty range.
The enforcement record for HP Pelzer Automotive Systems, Inc. reveals a deeply entrenched pattern of non-compliance characterized by systemic failures in both physical hazard mitigation and industrial hygiene. The presence of multiple "Repeat" violations—specifically regarding the use of compressed air for cleaning (1910.242(b)) and air contaminants (1910.1000)—indicates a failure of management to implement sustainable corrective actions following prior OSHA interventions. For the workforce, these citations translate to chronic exposure risks involving respiratory hazards, including formaldehyde and various particulates, exacerbated by a lack of adequate personal protective equipment and medical surveillance programs. The penalty total of nearly $129,000 is significantly higher than the industry average for automotive parts manufacturing, reflecting the gravity and recidivism of the offenses. The citation density across diverse standards—ranging from noise exposure and forklift safety to respiratory protection and general housekeeping—suggests a breakdown in the facility’s overall Safety and Health Management System (SHMS). Rather than isolated mechanical failures, the data points toward a cultural disregard for hazard communication and chemical safety protocols. The repetition of air contaminant violations is particularly litigious, as it demonstrates that the employer was aware of hazardous exposure levels yet failed to maintain effective engineering controls or administrative oversight, placing the facility at high risk for future "Willful" classifications and enhanced oversight under OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.