MERCHANTS METALS, INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, MERCHANTS METALS, INC. — a other fabricated wire product manufacturing facility located at 165 FANJOY ROAD, STATESVILLE, NC 28625 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 14 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $26,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2015-02-11.

The volume of citations issued during this inspection suggests systematic compliance deficiencies rather than isolated incidents. Facilities with 10 or more citations typically face comprehensive abatement requirements and may be subject to follow-up inspections.

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.

EPA Environmental Record: The EPA shows no current violations for this facility. regulated under: Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA Hazardous Waste. Source: EPA ECHO database.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $26,000.00 is more than 4.0× the national average of $6,436.62 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 332618). This sector encompasses 82,943 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $533.9M.

State Context: Within NC, this facility's penalty places it at the 99th percentile among 88,256 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $1,699.39.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 14 citations spanning 5 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 8 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition. 3 other-than-serious — The violation has a direct relationship to job safety and health but is unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm. 3 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 June 11, 2014 with the latest abatement deadline set for March 6, 2015. Of the 14 total citations, 12 (86%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, indicating substantial compliance with corrective action requirements.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $26,000.00 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 $1,857.14 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement record for Merchants Metals, Inc. reveals a deeply concerning pattern of systemic safety failures, particularly regarding high-hazard energy control and atmospheric monitoring protocols. The presence of multiple Repeat violations under 29 CFR 1910.146 (Permit-Required Confined Spaces) is the most critical element of this inspection. These recidivist citations for failing to monitor atmospheric conditions and establish adequate rescue procedures