IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY; IMPERIAL-SAVANNAH, L.P.: I

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY; IMPERIAL-SAVANNAH, L.P.: I — a sugar and confectionery product manufacturing facility located at 1230 5TH AVENUE, GRAMERCY, LA 70052 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 112 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $2,000,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2008-03-14.

This facility represents one of the most severe enforcement actions in the OSHA SVEP database. Willful violations combined with penalties exceeding $100,000 indicate a pattern of deliberate non-compliance that poses an imminent danger to workers.

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 $2,000,000.00 is more than 234.5× the national average of $8,527.19 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 311312). This sector encompasses 24,420 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $208.2M.

State Context: Within LA, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 19,587 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,582.10.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 112 citations spanning 1 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 14 willful — The employer intentionally and knowingly committed the violation, demonstrating either an intentional disregard for the requirements of the OSH Act or plain indifference to employee safety and health. 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 July 25, 2008 with the latest abatement deadline set for August 4, 2008. Of the 112 total citations, 15 (13%) 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 $17,857.14 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.

The 2008 inspection of the Gramercy refinery remains a landmark case in combustible dust enforcement