MAPLEHURST FARMS, INC.
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, MAPLEHURST FARMS, INC. — a wholesale trade facility located at 3646 OLD STATE ROAD, KIRKLAND, IL 60146 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 5 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $189,616.00. The inspection case was opened on 2019-05-29.
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.
Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $189,616.00 is more than 36.6× the national average of $5,185.75 for facilities in the Wholesale sector (NAICS 424510). This sector encompasses 30,869 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $160.1M.
State Context: Within IL, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 88,899 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,496.90.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 5 citations spanning 2 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. 1 repeat — A substantially similar violation was found during a previous inspection and the original citation has become a final order. 1 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.
Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning November 8, 2019 with the latest abatement deadline set for December 7, 2021. Of the 5 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 per-citation average of $37,923.20 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.
Goal:* Explain what this means for compliance and safety.The enforcement action against Maple