NORTON NEWS AGENCY

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, NORTON NEWS AGENCY — a book, periodical, and newspaper merchant wholesalers facility located at 801 CEDAR CROSS RD., DUBUQUE, IA 52002 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 15 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $4,962.50. The inspection case was opened on 2003-04-16.

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 2.6 per 100 full-time workers — near the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 4.4 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $4,962.50 is approximately in line with the national average of $5,185.75 for facilities in the Wholesale sector (NAICS 424920). This sector encompasses 30,869 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $160.1M.

State Context: Within IA, this facility's penalty places it at the 88th percentile among 19,658 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,797.42.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 15 citations spanning 7 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 11 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition. 4 other-than-serious — The violation has a direct relationship to job safety and health but is unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm.

Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning May 26, 1992 with the latest abatement deadline set for July 9, 2003. Of the 15 total citations, 15 (100%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, indicating substantial compliance with corrective action requirements.

Penalty Assessment: The total proposed penalty of $4,962.50 falls within OSHA's standard enforcement range and may have been adjusted through informal settlement conference procedures, penalty reduction factors, or good faith credit for demonstrated safety and health management systems.