TIDEWATER CONSTRUCTION CO.
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, TIDEWATER CONSTRUCTION CO. — a industry sector 00 facility located at RT. 58 BYPASS, SUFFOLK, VA 23434 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 7 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $175,350.00. The inspection case was opened on 2001-02-09.
Cumulative penalties significantly exceed the national median for OSHA enforcement actions. The penalty amount suggests multiple high-gravity citations, indicating conditions that presented a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm to employees.
Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $175,350.00 is more than 146.6× 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 VA, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 62,574 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,237.86.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 7 citations spanning 1 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 5 unclassified — A technical violation that does not fit neatly into the standard classification categories. 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.
Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning August 8, 2001 with the latest abatement deadline set for August 27, 2004. Of the 7 total citations, 5 (71%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, suggesting partial progress toward required corrective actions.
Penalty Assessment: The per-citation average of $25,050.00 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 Tidewater Construction Co. revealed a catastrophic breakdown in crane safety management, evidenced by an exceptionally