MIDWEST RACKING MANUFACTURING, INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, MIDWEST RACKING MANUFACTURING, INC. — a plate work manufacturing facility located at 905 FAIRWAY PARK DRIVE, MADISON, IL 62060 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 40 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $419,700.00. The inspection case was opened on 2005-04-18.

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.

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 $419,700.00 is more than 65.2× the national average of $6,436.62 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 332313). 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 100th percentile among 88,899 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,496.90.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 40 citations spanning 10 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 1 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition. 14 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 October 17, 2005 with the latest abatement deadline set for February 19, 2009. Of the 40 total citations, 7 (18%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $419,700.00 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 $10,492.50 falls within the standard penalty range.

The 2005 enforcement action against Midwest Racking Manufacturing, Inc. represents a severe regulatory intervention, evidenced by a staggering $419,