PINNACLE FOODS GROUP, LLC

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, PINNACLE FOODS GROUP, LLC — a seafood product preparation and packaging facility located at 1100 W. 15TH STREET, FAYETTEVILLE, AR 72701 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 56 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $152,900.00. The inspection case was opened on 2011-12-12.

Cumulative penalties significantly exceed the national median for OSHA enforcement actions. The penalty amount suggests multiple high-gravity citations, indicating conditions that presented a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm to employees.

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 $152,900.00 is more than 17.9× the national average of $8,527.19 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 311712). This sector encompasses 24,420 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $208.2M.

State Context: Within AR, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 15,726 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,714.64.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 56 citations spanning 10 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 12 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.

Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning June 24, 2010 with the latest abatement deadline set for September 1, 2010. Of the 56 total citations, 10 (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 $152,900.00 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 $2,730.36 falls within the standard penalty range.

The 2011 inspection of the Pinnacle Foods Group facility in Fayetteville revealed a pervasive breakdown in fundamental safety management systems, evidenced by the staggering volume of 56 citations and a six-figure penalty far exceeding industry averages for food manufacturing. The citation profile indicates a high-risk environment where workers faced multifaceted threats, most notably from neglected machine guarding (1910.212/219) and egress obstructions (1910.36). The recurrence of machine guarding violations suggests that employees were routinely exposed to point-of-operation hazards and rotating parts, which are primary drivers of amputations and severe crush injuries in high-speed food processing lines. Furthermore, the gravity-10 ratings for egress and electrical safety—specifically regarding guarded live parts and flexible cord usage—point to an environment where fire and electrocution risks were not merely theoretical but immediate. The application of the General Duty Clause (5A0001) alongside specific standards for noise and walking-working surfaces underscores a systemic failure to implement a cohesive Safety and Health Management System (SHMS). Rather than isolated mechanical failures, the breadth of these violations reflects a lack of proactive