STARK EXCAVATING, INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, STARK EXCAVATING, INC. — a site preparation contractors facility located at SPRINGFIELD AND THIRD, CHAMPAIGN, IL 61822 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 2 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $77,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2008-07-22.

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.

BLS Injury Data: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), this industry sector has an occupational injury rate of 2.8 per 100 full-time workers — 4% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 9.6 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $77,000.00 is more than 21.3× the national average of $3,609.14 for facilities in the Construction sector (NAICS 238910). This sector encompasses 532,749 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $1,922.8M.

State Context: Within IL, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 88,899 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,496.90.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 2 citations spanning 2 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 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. 1 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 December 2, 2008 with the latest abatement deadline set for December 8, 2008. Of the 2 total citations, 1 (50%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, suggesting partial progress toward required corrective actions.

Penalty Assessment: The per-citation average of $38,500.00 exceeds OSHA's FY2024 statutory maximum of $16,131 for serious violations, indicating the presence of willful or repeat classifications that carry enhanced penalty authority under Section 17 of the OSH Act.

The inspection of Stark Excavating, Inc. revealed a high-gravity failure to adhere to fundamental