WASHINGTON POTATO COMPANY
According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, WASHINGTON POTATO COMPANY — a manufacturing facility located at 5815 N INDUSTRIAL WAY, PASCO, WA 99301 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 42 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $112,153.00. The inspection case was opened on 2010-02-01.
Cumulative penalties significantly exceed the national median for OSHA enforcement actions. The penalty amount suggests multiple high-gravity citations, indicating conditions that presented a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm to employees.
Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $112,153.00 is more than 13.2× the national average of $8,527.19 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 311423). This sector encompasses 24,420 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $208.2M.
State Context: Within WA, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 126,183 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $1,683.96.
Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 42 citations spanning 11 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 15 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 June 30, 2010 with the latest abatement deadline set for June 22, 2012. Of the 42 total citations, 12 (29%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.
Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $112,153.00 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 $2,670.31 falls within the standard penalty range.
The enforcement record for Washington Potato Company reveals a systemic collapse of safety management systems, characterized