MID-STATES RECYCLING INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, MID-STATES RECYCLING INC. — a secondary smelting, refining, and alloying of nonferrous metal (except copper and aluminum) facility located at 1841 BUSSE HIGHWAY, DES PLAINES, IL 60016 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 29 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $46,040.00. The inspection case was opened on 2004-03-12.

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, RCRA Hazardous Waste. Source: EPA ECHO database.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $46,040.00 is more than 7.2× the national average of $6,436.62 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 331492). This sector encompasses 82,943 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $533.9M.

State Context: Within IL, this facility's penalty places it at the 99th percentile among 88,899 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,496.90.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 29 citations spanning 4 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 15 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 January 10, 2003 with the latest abatement deadline set for June 30, 2004. Of the 29 total citations, 15 (52%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, suggesting partial progress toward required corrective actions.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $46,040.00 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 $1,587.59 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement record for Mid-States Recycling Inc. reveals a systemic failure to manage high-toxicity health hazards inherent to secondary nonferrous metal smelting. The concentration of citations under 29 CFR 1910.1027 (Cadmium) and 1910.1000 (Air Contaminants) indicates that workers were subjected to inhalation risks