UNIVERSAL STEEL

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, UNIVERSAL STEEL — a fabricated structural metal manufacturing facility located at 888 BUFORD HIGHWAY, BUFORD, GA 30518 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 13 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $7,350.00. The inspection case was opened on 2009-08-28.

The volume of citations issued during this inspection suggests systematic compliance deficiencies rather than isolated incidents. Facilities with 10 or more citations typically face comprehensive abatement requirements and may be subject to follow-up inspections.

BLS Injury Data: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), this industry sector has an occupational injury rate of 3.3 per 100 full-time workers — 22% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 2.3 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $7,350.00 is approximately in line with the national average of $6,436.62 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 332312). This sector encompasses 82,943 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $533.9M.

State Context: Within GA, this facility's penalty places it at the 88th percentile among 48,956 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,799.18.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 13 citations spanning 9 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 12 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.

Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning October 29, 2009 with the latest abatement deadline set for January 29, 2010. Of the 13 total citations, 13 (100%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, indicating substantial compliance with corrective action requirements.

Penalty Assessment: The total proposed penalty of $7,350.00 falls within OSHA's standard enforcement range and may have been adjusted through informal settlement conference procedures, penalty reduction factors, or good faith credit for demonstrated safety and health management systems.