U. S. POSTAL SERVICE
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, U. S. POSTAL SERVICE — a postal service facility located at 3525 SOUTH COTTAGE AVENUE, INDEPENDENCE, MO 64055 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 1 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $70,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2012-07-25.
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 4.6 per 100 full-time workers — 70% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 14.0 per 100,000 workers.
Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $70,000.00 is more than 12.6× the national average of $5,543.54 for facilities in the Transportation sector (NAICS 491110). This sector encompasses 12,040 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $66.7M.
State Context: Within MO, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 41,963 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,902.40.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 1 citations spanning 0 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 1 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 December 12, 2012 with the latest abatement deadline set for May 15, 2015. Of the 1 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 $70,000.00 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 at this Independence, Missouri, postal facility underscores a severe breakdown in management’s commitment to the OSH Act’s General Duty Clause. By issuing a single, maximum-penalty Willful violation under Section 5(a)(1), OSHA signaled that the employer maintained actual knowledge of a life-threatening hazard yet demonstrated plain indifference toward mitigating that risk. Given the July inspection date and the nature of postal operations, such citations often involve recognized
This facility's $70,000 penalty is higher than 99% of all penalized companies in the NAICS 491110 industry in MO. The state average penalty for this industry is $8,836.
Comparing penalized facilities in INDEPENDENCE, MO (Broader Sector)
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What OSHA violations was U. S. POSTAL SERVICE cited for?
U. S. POSTAL SERVICE received 1 citation(s) covering 0 distinct OSHA standards. Total proposed penalties were $70,000.00. The inspection opened on 2012-07-25.
How much was U. S. POSTAL SERVICE fined by OSHA?
OSHA proposed penalties of $70,000.00 against U. S. POSTAL SERVICE in INDEPENDENCE, MO. Average per citation: $70,000.00.
Is U. S. POSTAL SERVICE a safe workplace?
Based on enforcement records, U. S. POSTAL SERVICE has a risk score of 49 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 Postal Service facilities is $5,543.54. This facility penalty of $70,000.00 is above the industry average.