Tier 1 Critical

SEWER RAT PLUMBING INC.

📍 330 W 41ST AVE, SAN MATEO, CA 94403🏭 Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (NAICS 238220)📅 2024-12-20
$264,820.00
Total Penalties
10
Citations
75/100
Risk Score
431
Analysis Words
Enforcement Analysis

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, SEWER RAT PLUMBING INC. — a plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors facility located at 330 W 41ST AVE, SAN MATEO, CA 94403 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 10 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $264,820.00. The inspection case was opened on 2024-12-20.

This facility represents one of the most severe enforcement actions in the OSHA SVEP database. Willful violations combined with penalties exceeding $100,000 indicate a pattern of deliberate non-compliance that poses an imminent danger to workers.

BLS Injury Data: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), this industry sector has an occupational injury rate of 2.8 per 100 full-time workers — 4% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 9.6 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $264,820.00 is more than 73.4× the national average of $3,609.14 for facilities in the Construction sector (NAICS 238220). This sector encompasses 532,749 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $1,922.8M.

State Context: Within CA, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 184,062 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,010.44.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 10 citations spanning 1 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 5 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 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. 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 January 31, 2025 with the latest abatement deadline set for March 7, 2025. Of the 10 total citations, 0 (0%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.

Penalty Assessment: The per-citation average of $26,482.00 exceeds OSHA's FY2024 statutory maximum of $16,131 for serious violations, indicating the presence of willful or repeat classifications that carry enhanced penalty authority under Section 17 of the OSH Act.

The enforcement record for Sewer Rat Plumbing Inc. reveals a catastrophic failure of safety management,

Industry Benchmark (CA)

This facility's $264,820 penalty is higher than 99% of all penalized companies in the NAICS 238220 industry in CA. The state average penalty for this industry is $3,916.

$3,916
State Avg
$264,820
This Facility
Citation Matrix — 10 Citations
OSHA Std. 1541(K)(1)
Serious
Penalty: $18,900.00Gravity: 10Issued: January 31, 2025Abated: Pending
29 CFR 1541.1(c)(02)
Serious
Penalty: $18,900.00Gravity: 10Issued: January 31, 2025Abated: Pending
OSHA Std. 1541(K)(2)
Willful
Penalty: $94,500.00Gravity: 10Issued: January 31, 2025Abated: Pending
29 CFR 1541.1(a)(01)
Willful
Penalty: $94,500.00Gravity: 10Issued: January 31, 2025Abated: Pending
OSHA Std. 341(C)(1)(A)
Other-than-Serious
Penalty: $560.00Gravity: nanIssued: January 31, 2025Abated: Pending
OSHA Std. 1509(E)
Other-than-Serious
Penalty: $450.00Gravity: 10Issued: January 31, 2025Abated: Pending
OSHA Std. 1512(B)
Other-than-Serious
Penalty: $560.00Gravity: 10Issued: January 31, 2025Abated: Pending
OSHA Std. 1541(C)(2)
Serious
Penalty: $12,150.00Gravity: 10Issued: January 31, 2025Abated: Pending
OSHA Std. 1541(J)(2)
Serious
Penalty: $12,150.00Gravity: 10Issued: January 31, 2025Abated: Pending
OSHA Std. 3385(A)
Serious
Penalty: $12,150.00Gravity: 10Issued: January 31, 2025Abated: Pending
This report is compiled from publicly available U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data under the Freedom of Information Act. SVEP Navigator is an independent research and analysis platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to OSHA, the Department of Labor, or any federal agency. Information is provided for research, educational, and compliance planning purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Penalty amounts shown are proposed penalties and may have been modified through contest proceedings or settlement.
Local Competitor Benchmark

Comparing penalized facilities in SAN MATEO, CA (Exact Industry)

SEWER RAT PLUMBING INC. (This Facility)
$264.8K
10 cit.
SMELLY MEL'S PLUMBING INC
$264.8K
10 cit.
FIRE STOP SPRINKLER COMPANY
$2.7K
1 cit.
SUPERIOR FIRE SPRINKLERS
$850
3 cit.
More CA Enforcement Records
LOCKHEED AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS CO.
BURBANK, CA
$1.5M
490 cit.
CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
RICHMOND, CA
$1.4M
145 cit.
TOTAL SAFETY U.S., INC.
BENICIA, CA
$988.0K
17 cit.
PARTER MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
CARSON, CA
$838.8K
18 cit.
EXXONMOBIL REFINING AND SUPPLY COMPANY
TORRANCE, CA
$638.7K
22 cit.
Other Inspected Facilities in SAN MATEO, CA
SMELLY MEL'S PLUMBING INC
$264.8K
10 cit.
WWC WINDOW CLEANING
$82.5K
7 cit.
SIX SIGMA BUILDERS, LLC
$28.4K
7 cit.
EMPNC, INC.
$24.8K
2 cit.
COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
$21.9K
4 cit.
Related Guides & Tools
OSHA Fines & Penalties Guide →
How OSHA calculates penalties and maximum fine amounts.
After an OSHA Inspection →
Citations, appeals, and penalty negotiation steps.
Top 10 OSHA Violations →
The most frequently cited standards nationwide.
Construction Safety Data →
Industry-wide violation stats and rankings.

Explore more: OSHA enforcement in SAN MATEO · California data · Search the database · Incident Rate Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions
What OSHA violations was SEWER RAT PLUMBING INC. cited for?

SEWER RAT PLUMBING INC. received 10 citation(s) covering 1 distinct OSHA standards. Total proposed penalties were $264,820.00. The inspection opened on 2024-12-20.

How much was SEWER RAT PLUMBING INC. fined by OSHA?

OSHA proposed penalties of $264,820.00 against SEWER RAT PLUMBING INC. in SAN MATEO, CA. Average per citation: $26,482.00.

Is SEWER RAT PLUMBING INC. a safe workplace?

Based on enforcement records, SEWER RAT PLUMBING INC. has a risk score of 75 out of 100. This facility represents one of the most severe enforcement actions in the OSHA SVEP database. Willful violations combined with penalties exceeding $100,000 indicate a pattern of deliberate non-compliance that poses an imminent danger to workers.

How does this penalty compare to the industry average?

The average penalty for Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors facilities is $3,609.14. This facility penalty of $264,820.00 is above the industry average.