SOUTHERN OHIO MEDICAL CENTER

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, SOUTHERN OHIO MEDICAL CENTER — a general medical and surgical hospitals facility located at 1735 27TH ST., PORTSMOUTH, OH 45662 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 5 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $19,012.50. The inspection case was opened on 2017-09-28.

DOL records document workplace safety violations warranting formal citation under the OSH Act. While classified at the standard enforcement level, all OSHA citations require corrective action and may indicate areas where workplace safety programs should be strengthened.

BLS Injury Data: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), this industry sector has an occupational injury rate of 4.5 per 100 full-time workers — 67% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 0.8 per 100,000 workers.

EPA Environmental Record: The EPA shows no current violations for this facility. regulated under: RCRA Hazardous Waste. Source: EPA ECHO database.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $19,012.50 is more than 7.2× the national average of $2,638.83 for facilities in the Health Care sector (NAICS 622110). This sector encompasses 27,508 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $72.6M.

State Context: Within OH, this facility's penalty places it at the 97th percentile among 91,405 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,818.37.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 5 citations spanning 4 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 2 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition. 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 October 23, 2017 with the latest abatement deadline set for January 22, 2018. Of the 5 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 cumulative penalty of $19,012.50 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 $3,802.50 falls within the standard penalty range.

Southern Ohio Medical Center’s 2017 enforcement record reveals a concentrated breakdown in electrical safety management and arc flash protection protocols. The citations, primarily centered on 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S, indicate that the facility failed to ensure equipment was installed according to its labeling and, more critically, neglected the training and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements for employees working near energized parts. The presence of multiple "Serious" violations related to electrical safe work practices (1910.332 and 1910.335) suggests a systemic failure rather than isolated technical errors. Specifically, the lack of adequate training and failure to provide or enforce the use of insulated tools and protective shields exposed maintenance personnel to high-energy arc flash hazards and electrocution risks. The penalty total of $19,012.50 is significantly higher than the industry average for NAICS 622110 (General Medical and Surgical Hospitals), where electrical hazards are often overlooked in favor of biological or ergonomic risks. This elevated penalty structure reflects the high gravity assigned by inspectors to the potential for catastrophic injury or death. The pattern of violations demonstrates a fundamental disconnect between the facility’s written safety programs and actual field execution, signaling a lack of management oversight regarding the qualification of electrical workers. For compliance professionals, this record serves as a stark warning that OSHA prioritizes the technical rigors of electrical safety standards even within clinical environments.