SPECIALTY MATERIALS, INC.
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, SPECIALTY MATERIALS, INC. — a all other miscellaneous chemical product and preparation manufacturing facility located at 1449 MIDDLESEX STREET, LOWELL, MA 01851 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 19 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $19,075.00. The inspection case was opened on 2012-11-30.
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.
EPA Environmental Record: The EPA shows no current violations for this facility. regulated under: Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA Hazardous Waste, Toxics Release Inventory. Toxic Release Inventory reports 920 lbs in releases/transfers. Source: EPA ECHO database.
Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $19,075.00 is more than 2.3× the national average of $8,414.32 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 325998). This sector encompasses 52,095 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $438.3M.
State Context: Within MA, this facility's penalty places it at the 98th percentile among 60,671 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,824.83.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 19 citations spanning 11 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 14 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 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 February 24, 2005 with the latest abatement deadline set for August 27, 2013. Of the 19 total citations, 4 (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 $19,075.00 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 $1,003.95 falls within the standard penalty range.
The enforcement profile for Specialty Materials, Inc. reveals a systemic breakdown in safety management systems, particularly concerning the
This facility's $19,075 penalty is higher than 87% of all penalized companies in the NAICS 325998 industry in MA. The state average penalty for this industry is $11,415.
Comparing penalized facilities in LOWELL, MA (Broader Sector)
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What OSHA violations was SPECIALTY MATERIALS, INC. cited for?
SPECIALTY MATERIALS, INC. received 19 citation(s) covering 11 distinct OSHA standards. Total proposed penalties were $19,075.00. The inspection opened on 2012-11-30.
How much was SPECIALTY MATERIALS, INC. fined by OSHA?
OSHA proposed penalties of $19,075.00 against SPECIALTY MATERIALS, INC. in LOWELL, MA. Average per citation: $1,003.95.
Is SPECIALTY MATERIALS, INC. a safe workplace?
Based on enforcement records, SPECIALTY MATERIALS, INC. has a risk score of 22 out of 100. 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.
How does this penalty compare to the industry average?
The average penalty for All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing facilities is $8,414.32. This facility penalty of $19,075.00 is above the industry average.