Tier 2 Severe

STERLING EXCAVATION, LLC

📍 18 CRESTWAY ROAD, EAST BOSTON, MA 02128🏭 Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (NAICS 237110)📅 2021-08-13
$62,477.70
Total Penalties
8
Citations
51/100
Risk Score
452
Analysis Words
Enforcement Analysis

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, STERLING EXCAVATION, LLC — a water and sewer line and related structures construction facility located at 18 CRESTWAY ROAD, EAST BOSTON, MA 02128 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 8 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $62,477.70. The inspection case was opened on 2021-08-13.

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 $62,477.70 is more than 17.3× the national average of $3,609.14 for facilities in the Construction sector (NAICS 237110). This sector encompasses 532,749 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $1,922.8M.

State Context: Within MA, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 60,671 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,824.83.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 8 citations spanning 7 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 3 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition. 4 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 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 9, 2022 with the latest abatement deadline set for February 17, 2022. Of the 8 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 $62,477.70 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 $7,809.71 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement record for Sterling Excavation, LLC reveals a profound collapse of safety management systems, characterized by a

Industry Benchmark (MA)

This facility's $62,478 penalty is higher than 98% of all penalized companies in the NAICS 237110 industry in MA. The state average penalty for this industry is $10,548.

$10,548
State Avg
$62,478
This Facility
Citation Matrix — 8 Citations
29 CFR 1926.100(b)
Fall Protection (Construction)
Serious
Penalty: $1,450.20Gravity: 10Issued: February 9, 2022Abated: Pending
29 CFR 1926.651(i)(01)
Serious
Penalty: $1,450.20Gravity: 10Issued: February 9, 2022Abated: Pending
29 CFR 1926.1203(a)
Serious
Penalty: $1,450.20Gravity: 10Issued: February 9, 2022Abated: Pending
29 CFR 1926.20(b)(02)
Construction Safety Training & Education
Willful
Penalty: $14,502.70Gravity: 10Issued: February 9, 2022Abated: Pending
29 CFR 1926.21(b)(02)
Safety Training & Education Programs
Willful
Penalty: $14,502.70Gravity: 10Issued: February 9, 2022Abated: Pending
29 CFR 1926.651(j)(01)
Willful
Penalty: $14,502.70Gravity: 10Issued: February 9, 2022Abated: Pending
29 CFR 1926.652(a)(01)
Willful
Penalty: $14,502.70Gravity: 10Issued: February 9, 2022Abated: Pending
29 CFR 1926.150(c)(01)
Other-than-Serious
Penalty: $116.30Gravity: nanIssued: February 9, 2022Abated: Pending
This report is compiled from publicly available U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data under the Freedom of Information Act. SVEP Navigator is an independent research and analysis platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to OSHA, the Department of Labor, or any federal agency. Information is provided for research, educational, and compliance planning purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Penalty amounts shown are proposed penalties and may have been modified through contest proceedings or settlement.
Local Competitor Benchmark

Comparing penalized facilities in EAST BOSTON, MA (Broader Sector)

STERLING EXCAVATION, LLC (This Facility)
$62.5K
8 cit.
NORTHEAST FRAMING, INC
$311.3K
11 cit.
AZUAY CONSTRUCTION LLC
$99.6K
8 cit.
EVOLUTION IRON WORKS INC.
$35.0K
9 cit.
More MA Enforcement Records
ATLANTIC COAST UTILITIES, LLC, ADVANCED UTILITIES, INCORPORATED
BOSTON, MA
$1.4M
32 cit.
TEWKSBURY INDUSTRIES, INC.
TEWKSBURY, MA
$768.6K
61 cit.
WYMAN-GORDON CO. EASTERN DIVISION
NO. GRAFTON, MA
$624.0K
203 cit.
BOSTIK, INC.
MIDDLETON, MA
$614.8K
56 cit.
TRIBE MEDITERRANEAN FOODS, INCORPORATED
TAUNTON, MA
$540.0K
18 cit.
Other Inspected Facilities in EAST BOSTON, MA
NORTHEAST FRAMING, INC
$311.3K
11 cit.
AZUAY CONSTRUCTION LLC
$99.6K
8 cit.
MODERN CONTINENTAL/OBAYASHI, A JOINT VENTURE
$61.5K
44 cit.
MAIN TECH
$54.0K
11 cit.
DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
$43.1K
20 cit.
Related Guides & Tools
OSHA Fines & Penalties Guide →
How OSHA calculates penalties and maximum fine amounts.
After an OSHA Inspection →
Citations, appeals, and penalty negotiation steps.
Top 10 OSHA Violations →
The most frequently cited standards nationwide.
Construction Safety Data →
Industry-wide violation stats and rankings.

Explore more: OSHA enforcement in EAST BOSTON · Massachusetts data · Search the database · Incident Rate Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions
What OSHA violations was STERLING EXCAVATION, LLC cited for?

STERLING EXCAVATION, LLC received 8 citation(s) covering 7 distinct OSHA standards. Total proposed penalties were $62,477.70. The inspection opened on 2021-08-13.

How much was STERLING EXCAVATION, LLC fined by OSHA?

OSHA proposed penalties of $62,477.70 against STERLING EXCAVATION, LLC in EAST BOSTON, MA. Average per citation: $7,809.71.

Is STERLING EXCAVATION, LLC a safe workplace?

Based on enforcement records, STERLING EXCAVATION, LLC has a risk score of 51 out of 100. 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.

How does this penalty compare to the industry average?

The average penalty for Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction facilities is $3,609.14. This facility penalty of $62,477.70 is above the industry average.