PLUM CREEK MDF, INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, PLUM CREEK MDF, INC. — a industry sector 00 facility located at 500 12 AVE. WEST, COLUMBIA FALLS, MT 59912 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 17 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $108,937.50. The inspection case was opened on 2002-03-21.

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.

State Context: Within MT, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 9,480 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,110.71.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 17 citations spanning 7 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 13 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition. 2 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 April 15, 2002 with the latest abatement deadline set for May 15, 2004. Of the 17 total citations, 14 (82%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, indicating substantial compliance with corrective action requirements.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $108,937.50 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 $6,408.09 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement profile for Plum Creek MDF, Inc. reveals a profound systemic failure in energy control and mechanical