VAUGHN INDUSTRIES LLC

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, VAUGHN INDUSTRIES LLC — a electric power distribution facility located at 21934 TWP. RD. 218, FOSTORIA, OH 44830 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 9 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $151,200.00. The inspection case was opened on 2003-05-07.

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.

BLS Injury Data: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), this industry sector has an occupational injury rate of 2.4 per 100 full-time workers — near the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 7.0 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $151,200.00 is more than 34.9× the national average of $4,328.89 for facilities in the Utilities sector (NAICS 221122). This sector encompasses 8,952 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $38.8M.

State Context: Within OH, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 91,405 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,818.37.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 9 citations spanning 3 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 4 unclassified — A technical violation that does not fit neatly into the standard classification categories. 3 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. 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.

Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning November 6, 2003 with the latest abatement deadline set for November 24, 2003. Of the 9 total citations, 4 (44%) 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 $16,800.00 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 2003 enforcement action against Vaughn Industries LLC revealed a catastrophic breakdown in fundamental electrical safety protocols