L.E. PHILLIPS CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, L.E. PHILLIPS CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC. — a vocational rehabilitation services facility located at 1515 BALL STREET, EAU CLAIRE, WI 54703 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 6 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $21,200.00. The inspection case was opened on 2016-07-18.

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 4.5 per 100 full-time workers — 67% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 0.8 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $21,200.00 is more than 8.0× the national average of $2,638.83 for facilities in the Health Care sector (NAICS 624310). This sector encompasses 27,508 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $72.6M.

State Context: Within WI, this facility's penalty places it at the 98th percentile among 43,331 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,505.68.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 6 citations spanning 2 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 6 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 November 16, 2016 with the latest abatement deadline set for January 31, 2017. Of the 6 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 cumulative penalty of $21,200.00 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 $3,533.33 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement action at L.E. Phillips Career Development Center reveals a systemic failure to mitigate high-risk mechanical hazards, specifically within the facility’s woodworking operations. The concentration of citations under 29 CFR 1910.147 and 1910.213 underscores a dual-threat environment where employees were exposed to both point-of-operation injuries and uncontrolled energy releases. In practical terms, the lack of robust lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures, inspections, and training meant that maintenance or clearing jams could have resulted in catastrophic crushing or electrocution. Simultaneously, the deficiencies in woodworking machinery guarding—specifically regarding saws and related equipment—placed workers at immediate risk of amputations or