UNIFIRST CORPORATION
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, UNIFIRST CORPORATION — a other services facility located at 190 FAIRFIELD AVE, WEST CALDWELL, NJ 07006 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 9 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $186,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2011-11-03.
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 $186,000.00 is more than 64.8× the national average of $2,870.27 for facilities in the Other Services sector (NAICS 812331). This sector encompasses 29,798 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $85.5M.
State Context: Within NJ, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 81,999 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,616.41.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 9 citations spanning 4 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 5 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition. 4 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 April 30, 2012 with the latest abatement deadline set for May 24, 2012. Of the 9 total citations, 9 (100%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, indicating substantial compliance with corrective action requirements.
Penalty Assessment: The per-citation average of $20,666.67 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 UniFirst Corporation’s West Caldwell facility revealed a profound breakdown in fundamental health and safety