VARGAS CONSTRUCTION LLC

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, VARGAS CONSTRUCTION LLC — a framing contractors facility located at 21010 JOSEPH STREET, ELKHORN, NE 68022 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 4 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $24,700.00. The inspection case was opened on 2022-10-04.

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 2.8 per 100 full-time workers — 4% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 9.6 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $24,700.00 is more than 6.8× the national average of $3,609.14 for facilities in the Construction sector (NAICS 238130). This sector encompasses 532,749 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $1,922.8M.

State Context: Within NE, this facility's penalty places it at the 98th percentile among 12,745 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $4,129.57.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 4 citations spanning 4 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. 1 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. 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 December 12, 2022 with the latest abatement deadline set for January 9, 2023. Of the 4 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 cumulative penalty of $24,700.00 reflects OSHA's gravity-based penalty calculation methodology, which considers the severity of potential injury, the probability of occurrence, the employer's size, good faith, and violation history. The per-citation average of $6,175.00 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement record for Vargas Construction LLC reveals a systemic breakdown in fundamental life-safety protocols, most notably regarding