SIMPSON TACOMA KRAFT CO

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, SIMPSON TACOMA KRAFT CO — a pulp, paper, and paperboard mills facility located at 801 PORTLAND AVE, TACOMA, WA 98421 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 71 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $41,860.00. The inspection case was opened on 2006-03-16.

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 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 $41,860.00 is more than 5.0× 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 WA, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 126,183 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $1,683.96.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 71 citations spanning 13 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 2 repeat — A substantially similar violation was found during a previous inspection and the original citation has become a final order. 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. 6 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 11, 1991 with the latest abatement deadline set for November 26, 1991. Of the 71 total citations, 15 (21%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $41,860.00 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 $589.58 falls within the standard penalty range.

The sheer volume of 71 citations issued against Simpson Tacoma Kraft Co indicates a pervasive