SMOKY HILL, L.L.C.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, SMOKY HILL, L.L.C. — a industry sector 00 facility located at SOUTHERLAND AND SCANLANN, SALINA, KS 67401 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 6 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $38,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 1998-01-23.

Federal investigators determined that one or more violations at this facility were committed willfully — meaning the employer either knowingly failed to comply with OSHA standards or acted with plain indifference to employee safety. Willful violations carry the highest penalty multipliers under the OSH Act.

State Context: Within KS, this facility's penalty places it at the 99th percentile among 19,826 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,225.89.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 6 citations spanning 2 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. 1 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.

Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning April 9, 1998 with the latest abatement deadline set for May 13, 1998. Of the 6 total citations, 6 (100%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, indicating substantial compliance with corrective action requirements.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $38,000.00 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 $6,333.33 falls within the standard penalty range.

The inspection of Smoky Hill, L.L.C. revealed a catastrophic breakdown in excavation safety protocols,