INDEPENDENT PAPER CO
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, INDEPENDENT PAPER CO — a industrial and personal service paper merchant wholesalers facility located at 807 HAMPDEN AVENUE, ST PAUL, MN 55114 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 4 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $72,200.00. The inspection case was opened on 2006-04-20.
Federal investigators determined that one or more violations at this facility were committed willfully — meaning the employer either knowingly failed to comply with OSHA standards or acted with plain indifference to employee safety. Willful violations carry the highest penalty multipliers under the OSH Act.
BLS Injury Data: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), this industry sector has an occupational injury rate of 2.6 per 100 full-time workers — near the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 4.4 per 100,000 workers.
Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $72,200.00 is more than 13.9× the national average of $5,185.75 for facilities in the Wholesale sector (NAICS 424130). This sector encompasses 30,869 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $160.1M.
State Context: Within MN, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 58,337 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $1,403.06.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 4 citations spanning 2 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 2 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. 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.
Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning October 10, 2006 with the latest abatement deadline set for November 3, 2006. Of the 4 total citations, 2 (50%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, suggesting partial progress toward required corrective actions.
Penalty Assessment: The per-citation average of $18,050.00 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 enforcement profile for Independent Paper Co. reveals a critically deficient safety culture characterized by a
This facility's $72,200 penalty is higher than 99% of all penalized companies in the NAICS 424130 industry in MN. The state average penalty for this industry is $6,511.
Comparing penalized facilities in ST PAUL, MN (Broader Sector)
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What OSHA violations was INDEPENDENT PAPER CO cited for?
INDEPENDENT PAPER CO received 4 citation(s) covering 2 distinct OSHA standards. Total proposed penalties were $72,200.00. The inspection opened on 2006-04-20.
How much was INDEPENDENT PAPER CO fined by OSHA?
OSHA proposed penalties of $72,200.00 against INDEPENDENT PAPER CO in ST PAUL, MN. Average per citation: $18,050.00.
Is INDEPENDENT PAPER CO a safe workplace?
Based on enforcement records, INDEPENDENT PAPER CO has a risk score of 51 out of 100. Federal investigators determined that one or more violations at this facility were committed willfully — meaning the employer either knowingly failed to comply with OSHA standards or acted with plain indifference to employee safety. Willful violations carry the highest penalty multipliers under the OSH Act.
How does this penalty compare to the industry average?
The average penalty for Industrial and Personal Service Paper Merchant Wholesalers facilities is $5,185.75. This facility penalty of $72,200.00 is above the industry average.