TYSON FOODS INC.
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, TYSON FOODS INC. — a manufacturing facility located at 521 S. MAIN, HUTCHINSON, KS 67501 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 5 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $91,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2013-06-18.
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 $91,000.00 is more than 10.7× the national average of $8,527.19 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 311612). This sector encompasses 24,420 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $208.2M.
State Context: Within KS, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 19,826 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,225.89.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 5 citations spanning 3 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. 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. 1 repeat — A substantially similar violation was found during a previous inspection and the original citation has become a final order.
Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning December 13, 2013 with the latest abatement deadline set for July 7, 2016. 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 $18,200.00 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 profile for this Tyson Foods facility reveals a profound breakdown in the management of hazardous energy and a troubling