VALLARTA SUPERMARKETS

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, VALLARTA SUPERMARKETS — a supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) facility located at 4831 BUTLER AVENUE, FRESNO, CA 93727 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 1 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $36,000.00. The inspection case was opened on 2018-02-23.

DOL records document workplace safety violations warranting formal citation under the OSH Act. While classified at the standard enforcement level, all OSHA citations require corrective action and may indicate areas where workplace safety programs should be strengthened.

BLS Injury Data: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), this industry sector has an occupational injury rate of 3.1 per 100 full-time workers — 15% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 2.2 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $36,000.00 is more than 11.2× the national average of $3,207.45 for facilities in the Retail sector (NAICS 445110). This sector encompasses 30,308 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $97.2M.

State Context: Within CA, this facility's penalty places it at the 99th percentile among 184,062 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,010.44.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 1 citations spanning 0 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 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 August 9, 2018 with the latest abatement deadline set for Date Not Recorded. 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 $36,000.00 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 against this Vallarta Supermarkets location centered on a Repeat violation of Title 8, Section 4543(B)(2), specifically regarding the inadequate guarding of power-operated meat saws. For workers in the butchery and deli departments, this deficiency represented a severe amputation hazard, as the unused portion of the high-speed cutting blade remained exposed during operation. The assessment of a $36,000 penalty for a