SOUTHERN FOODS GROUP, LLC DBA MEADOW GOLD DAIRIES

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, SOUTHERN FOODS GROUP, LLC DBA MEADOW GOLD DAIRIES — a fluid milk manufacturing facility located at 1325 W. OXFORD AVENUE, ENGLEWOOD, CO 80110 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 29 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $78,100.00. The inspection case was opened on 2010-06-28.

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.

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.

EPA Environmental Record: The EPA currently lists this facility under Violation Identified status. regulated under: Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA Hazardous Waste, Toxics Release Inventory. Toxic Release Inventory reports 5 lbs in releases/transfers. Source: EPA ECHO database.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $78,100.00 is more than 9.2× the national average of $8,527.19 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 311511). This sector encompasses 24,420 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $208.2M.

State Context: Within CO, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 32,935 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,271.13.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 29 citations spanning 5 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 5 other-than-serious — The violation has a direct relationship to job safety and health but is unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm. 10 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 August 26, 2010 with the latest abatement deadline set for August 17, 2011. Of the 29 total citations, 13 (45%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $78,100.00 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 $2,693.10 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement record for Meadow Gold Dairies reveals a systemic failure to manage high-risk operational hazards, specifically within the domains of hazardous energy control and permit-required confined space entry. The concentration of citations under 1910.147 and 1910.146, characterized by high gravity ratings, indicates that the facility lacked the foundational safety infrastructure necessary