LINEN KING

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, LINEN KING — a drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) facility located at 2600 MAGUIRE BLVD, COLUMBIA, MO 65201 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 3 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $21,729.00. The inspection case was opened on 2017-05-16.

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 2.0 per 100 full-time workers — near the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 3.4 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $21,729.00 is more than 7.6× the national average of $2,870.27 for facilities in the Other Services sector (NAICS 812320). This sector encompasses 29,798 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $85.5M.

State Context: Within MO, this facility's penalty places it at the 98th percentile among 41,963 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,902.40.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 3 citations spanning 3 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 3 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 August 16, 2017 with the latest abatement deadline set for September 12, 2017. Of the 3 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 $21,729.00 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 $7,243.00 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement action against Linen King reveals a high-gravity risk profile typical of systemic neglect in industrial laundry environments. The citations represent a trifecta of fundamental physical hazards: slip-and-fall risks from poorly maintained walking-working surfaces, catastrophic mechanical risks from inadequate machine guarding, and fire or electrocution hazards stemming from improper electrical wiring. Specifically, the violation of 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A) suggests the facility utilized flexible cords as a permanent substitute for fixed wiring—a common but dangerous shortcut in aging facilities that increases the risk of thermal failure. The penalty assessment of $