Workplace safety enforcement data for 9,785 inspected facilities across Vermont.
Vermont has 9785 OSHA-inspected facilities with cumulative penalties totaling $13.4M. The state's average penalty of $1,373.10 is below the national average of $2,498.69. Federal investigators have documented 51237 total citations across Vermont, including 29 cases involving willful violations — the most severe classification under the OSH Act.
Analyst Commentary
The OSHA enforcement landscape in Vermont reveals a robust regulatory environment tailored to a state characterized by a high volume of small to medium-sized enterprises. With a total of 9,785 inspected facilities, the state demonstrates a consistent commitment to oversight, resulting in 51,237 total citations issued over the tracked period. The cumulative penalties of $13,435,824 underscore a significant financial impact on the regional business community; however, the average penalty per facility stands at a relatively modest $1,373.10. This figure suggests that while enforcement is frequent, the violations may often be less severe or involve smaller entities compared to heavy-industrial hubs in other regions. Given Vermont’s economic reliance on manufacturing, healthcare, and specialized agriculture, these statistics reflect a calculated balance between maintaining safety standards and managing the fiscal realities of a smaller, diverse industrial profile.
Compliance professionals should take note of the high citation-to-inspection ratio, as the 51,237 total citations issued across 9,785 inspections indicate that inspectors often identify multiple infractions during a single site visit. In Vermont, industries such as specialty manufacturing, construction, and food processing likely drive these figures, necessitating rigorous internal audits to avoid the cumulative burden of minor infractions. What makes Vermont’s enforcement profile particularly distinctive is this high volume of citations paired with the specific average penalty per facility of $1,373.10. This suggests that the state’s regulatory focus may lean toward comprehensive hazard identification rather than purely punitive, high-dollar fines for isolated incidents. Professionals must focus on systemic safety management systems, particularly regarding machine guarding and fall protection, to mitigate the risk of becoming part of the $13,435,824 in cumulative penalties that continue to shape the state's safety narrative.