YODER SMOKERS, INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, YODER SMOKERS, INC. — a commercial and service industry machinery manufacturing facility located at 1816 EAST WASP ROAD, HUTCHINSON, KS 67501 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 3 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $27,663.00. The inspection case was opened on 2024-10-15.

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 3.3 per 100 full-time workers — 22% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 2.3 per 100,000 workers.

EPA Environmental Record: The EPA currently lists this facility under Significant Violation status. EPA penalties total $3,750.00 (Clean Air Act: $3,750.00). Toxic Release Inventory reports 47437 lbs in releases/transfers. Source: EPA ECHO database.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $27,663.00 is more than 4.3× the national average of $6,436.62 for facilities in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS 333318). This sector encompasses 82,943 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $533.9M.

State Context: Within KS, this facility's penalty places it at the 99th percentile among 19,826 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $3,225.89.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 3 citations spanning 3 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 3 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 February 28, 2025 with the latest abatement deadline set for March 26, 2025. Of the 3 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 $27,663.00 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 $9,221.00 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement action against Yoder Smokers, Inc. reveals a concerning nexus of foundational safety management failures and