TOPFLIGHT GRAIN COOPERATIVE, INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, TOPFLIGHT GRAIN COOPERATIVE, INC. — a transportation facility located at 105 E. ELM STREET, ATLANTA, IL 61723 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 5 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $400,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2022-08-16.

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 $400,000.00 is more than 72.2× the national average of $5,543.54 for facilities in the Transportation sector (NAICS 493130). This sector encompasses 12,040 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $66.7M.

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 5 citations spanning 2 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 3 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 repeat — A substantially similar violation was found during a previous inspection and the original citation has become a final order. 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 8, 2023 with the latest abatement deadline set for February 17, 2023. Of the 5 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 per-citation average of $80,000.00 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 enforcement action against Topflight Grain Cooperative, Inc. underscores a profound breakdown in safety leadership, characterized by