Manufacturing Firm Avoids $340K OSHA Penalty
The Challenge
A 250-employee metal fabrication company in Charlotte received an unannounced OSHA inspection after a recordable injury. OSHA issued 14 violations including two willful citations carrying a $340,000 proposed penalty. The company had no OSHA compliance program, no written safety policies, and no prior HR partner. They contacted Catapult HR the morning after the inspection.
The Catapult Approach
Catapult deployed an HR compliance team to the facility within 24 hours. The team conducted a rapid gap assessment, developed a formal Abatement Plan demonstrating good-faith corrective action, and coached leadership through the OSHA informal conference process. Catapult implemented required training programs, established written safety programs (Hazard Communication, Lockout/Tagout, PPE, Emergency Action), and created a recordkeeping system meeting all 29 CFR 1910 requirements.
Results
- ✓Settlement reduced from $340,000 to $28,000 through documented abatement and negotiation
- ✓All 14 cited violations abated within 30 days with documentation accepted by OSHA
- ✓Zero repeat violations in subsequent OSHA follow-up inspection 6 months later
- ✓Formal Safety Committee and monthly inspection program established
- ✓OSHA 300 recordkeeping system implemented across all facilities
- ✓HR team trained on OSHA rights and obligations during inspections
“Catapult’s team knew exactly how to respond to OSHA — from the moment they walked in with inspectors to the final settlement. They saved us over $300,000 and built us a compliance program we’re actually proud of.”
VP of Operations — Metal Fabrication Company, Charlotte NC
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