NORTHERN STEEL CASTINGS, INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, NORTHERN STEEL CASTINGS, INC. — a manufacturing facility located at 80 OLIVER STREET, WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI 54494 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 63 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $76,222.50. The inspection case was opened on 2011-05-18.

Federal investigators determined that one or more violations at this facility were committed willfully — meaning the employer either knowingly failed to comply with OSHA standards or acted with plain indifference to employee safety. Willful violations carry the highest penalty multipliers under the OSH Act.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $76,222.50 is more than 11.8× the national average of $6,436.62 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 331513). This sector encompasses 82,943 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $533.9M.

State Context: Within WI, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 43,331 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,505.68.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 63 citations spanning 6 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 2 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. 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. 1 other-than-serious — The violation has a direct relationship to job safety and health but is unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm. 4 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 April 1, 1988 with the latest abatement deadline set for February 18, 2012. Of the 63 total citations, 14 (22%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $76,222.50 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 $1,209.88 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement action against Northern Steel Castings, Inc. reveals a profound breakdown in industrial hygiene and respiratory protection protocols, characterized by a staggering 63 citations. The presence of Willful (W) and Repeat (R) violations under 29 CFR 1910.1000 indicates that management was consciously indifferent to or demonstrated a flagrant disregard for permissible exposure limits (PELs). In a steel foundry environment, these citations typically signify that workers were subjected to toxic overexposures—likely crystalline silica or metallic fumes—without the implementation of feasible engineering controls. The gravity rating of 10 for the willful violations underscores the high probability of chronic, irreversible respiratory illness resulting from these failures. The sheer volume of citations, coupled with a penalty total significantly exceeding industry averages for small-to-midsize foundries, points toward a systemic failure rather than isolated negligence. By failing to provide adequate medical evaluations and fit testing for respirators (1910.134) while simultaneously exceeding PELs, the facility effectively stripped employees of their primary defenses against hazardous atmospheres. Furthermore, the convergence of Repeat violations for air contaminants and Serious violations for noise (1910.95) suggests a persistent inability to sustain an effective health and safety management system. This record reflects a reactive safety culture where known hazards were allowed to proliferate, creating substantial legal and health liabilities that go far beyond simple administrative oversight.