UNITED DRILLING

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, UNITED DRILLING — a mining facility located at MILE MARKER 17 HWY 529, HOBBS, NM 88240 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 3 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $70,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2007-10-16.

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.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $70,000.00 is more than 11.9× the national average of $5,862.45 for facilities in the Mining sector (NAICS 213111). This sector encompasses 7,019 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $41.1M.

State Context: Within NM, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 8,892 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $1,937.30.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 3 citations spanning 1 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 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. 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 April 8, 2008 with the latest abatement deadline set for April 14, 2008. Of the 3 total citations, 3 (100%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, indicating substantial compliance with corrective action requirements.

Penalty Assessment: The per-citation average of $23,333.33 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 United Drilling reveals a high-gravity failure to manage fundamental electrocution hazards inherent