STICKLE ENTERPRISES LTD.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, STICKLE ENTERPRISES LTD. — a industry sector 00 facility located at THIRD STREET, SEWARD, IL 61077 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 7 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $145,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 1996-01-22.

This facility represents one of the most severe enforcement actions in the OSHA SVEP database. Willful violations combined with penalties exceeding $100,000 indicate a pattern of deliberate non-compliance that poses an imminent danger to workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $145,000.00 is more than 121.3× the national average of $1,195.75 for facilities in the Other sector (NAICS 000000). This sector encompasses 1,316,687 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $1,574.4M.

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 7 citations spanning 1 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 7 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.

Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning July 11, 1996 with the latest abatement deadline set for November 1, 2001. Of the 7 total citations, 7 (100%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, indicating substantial compliance with corrective action requirements.

Penalty Assessment: The per-citation average of $20,714.29 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 enforcement record for Stickle Enterprises Ltd. represents a catastrophic failure of safety management within a high-hazard grain handling environment. The issuance of seven Willful violations—the most severe administrative classification—demonstrates OSHA’s determination that management acted with plain indifference to worker safety. Specifically, the citations under 29 CFR 1910.272 reveal a systemic disregard for grain bin entry protocols, including the failure to de-energize mechanical equipment, lack of