MEADOW GOLD DAIRIES, INC. DBA DEAN FOODS

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, MEADOW GOLD DAIRIES, INC. DBA DEAN FOODS — a fluid milk manufacturing facility located at 109 S. BROADWAY, BILLINGS, MT 59101 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 20 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $79,812.50. The inspection case was opened on 2003-01-16.

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 $79,812.50 is more than 9.4× the national average of $8,527.19 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 311511). This sector encompasses 24,420 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $208.2M.

State Context: Within MT, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 9,480 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,110.71.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 20 citations spanning 9 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 8 other-than-serious — The violation has a direct relationship to job safety and health but is unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm. 7 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 February 5, 2003 with the latest abatement deadline set for September 16, 2003. Of the 20 total citations, 14 (70%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, suggesting partial progress toward required corrective actions.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $79,812.50 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 $3,990.63 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement action against Meadow Gold Dairies revealed a pervasive breakdown in fundamental