KUEHNE CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC.
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, KUEHNE CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. — a basic chemical manufacturing facility located at 1645 RIVER ROAD, DELAWARE CITY, DE 19706 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 37 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $121,151.40. The inspection case was opened on 2010-07-12.
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.
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 $121,151.40 is more than 14.4× the national average of $8,414.32 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 325188). This sector encompasses 52,095 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $438.3M.
State Context: Within DE, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 5,902 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $4,743.73.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 37 citations spanning 8 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 13 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition. 2 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 January 6, 2011 with the latest abatement deadline set for June 1, 2012. Of the 37 total citations, 13 (35%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.
Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $121,151.40 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 $3,274.36 falls within the standard penalty range.
The enforcement profile for Kuehne Chemical Company’s Delaware City facility reveals a systemic breakdown of Process
Comparing penalized facilities in DELAWARE CITY, DE (Broader Sector)
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What OSHA violations was KUEHNE CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. cited for?
KUEHNE CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. received 37 citation(s) covering 8 distinct OSHA standards. Total proposed penalties were $121,151.40. The inspection opened on 2010-07-12.
How much was KUEHNE CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. fined by OSHA?
OSHA proposed penalties of $121,151.40 against KUEHNE CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. in DELAWARE CITY, DE. Average per citation: $3,274.36.
Is KUEHNE CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. a safe workplace?
Based on enforcement records, KUEHNE CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. has a risk score of 64 out of 100. 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.
How does this penalty compare to the industry average?
The average penalty for Basic Chemical Manufacturing facilities is $8,414.32. This facility penalty of $121,151.40 is above the industry average.