SAPPI FINE PAPER
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, SAPPI FINE PAPER — a manufacturing facility located at 2201 AVENUE B, CLOQUET, MN 55720 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 7 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $82,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2003-11-12.
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.
Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $82,000.00 is more than 9.7× the national average of $8,414.32 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 322121). This sector encompasses 52,095 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $438.3M.
State Context: Within MN, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 58,337 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $1,403.06.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 7 citations spanning 3 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 7 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition.
Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning March 10, 2004 with the latest abatement deadline set for January 1, 2006. Of the 7 total citations, 2 (29%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.
Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $82,000.00 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 $11,714.29 falls within the standard penalty range.
The enforcement profile for the Sappi Fine Paper facility reveals a concentrated breakdown in hazardous energy control and