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Inspection outcome
Opened: November 17, 2021 · Closed: December 7, 2023
Citations issued

OSHA issued one or more Other-than-serious citations.

Safety inspection · Complaint · Partial — limited to specific operations or areas

Violations20
Serious+0
Initial penalty$217,794
Current penalty$120,000
Accidents0
Duration750d
Summary

What happened in this inspection

On November 17, 2021, OSHA opened Sunopta Grains And Foods Inc.’s inspection #345644249 at GRACE CITY, North Dakota. The case was administratively closed on December 7, 2023, 750 days after opening.

OSHA cited the employer for 20 violations totaling $120,000 in current penalties — reduced from an initial proposed total of $217,794. All citations were Other-than-serious.

Breakdown by classification
20violations total
Willful15%

A Willful violation is one OSHA determined the employer committed with intentional disregard for, or plain indifference to, the OSH Act. It carries the highest civil penalty — up to ~$165,000 per violation. Willful violations are rare and signal the most serious workplace safety failures.

Serious1050%

A Serious violation is one where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew (or should have known) of the hazard. Maximum penalty is ~$16,550 per violation. The majority of OSHA citations fall into this category.

Other-than-serious945%

An Other-than-serious violation has a direct relationship to job safety and health but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm. Maximum penalty is ~$16,550 per violation. Often involves recordkeeping or procedural lapses.

Citations

Citations issued in this inspection

20citations issued
$120,000current penalty
↓ $97,794total reduction
Look up on OSHA.gov
Othergravity 5
Citation #01001A
29 CFR 1910.22(c)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$10,360
Current$10,360
Seriousgravity 5
Citation #01001B
29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$0
Current$0
Othergravity 5
Citation #01001D
29 CFR 1910.29(b)(2)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$0
Current$0
Seriousgravity 10
Citation #01002
29 CFR 1910.28(b)(15)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$14,502
Current$14,502
Othergravity 5
Citation #01003A
29 CFR 1910.36(b)(1)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$10,360
Current$10,360
Seriousgravity 5
Citation #01003B
29 CFR 1910.272(o)(1)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$0
Current$0
Seriousgravity 10
Citation #01004
29 CFR 1910.68(e)(1)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$14,502
Current$14,502
Seriousgravity 10
Citation #01005A
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$14,502
Current$14,502
Othergravity 10
Citation #01005B
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(6)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$0
Current$0
Othergravity 10
Citation #01005C
29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$0
Current$0
Seriousgravity 1
Citation #01006
29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$6,215
Current$6,215
Seriousgravity 10
Citation #02002A
29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(i)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$145,027
Current$47,233reduced by $97,794
Seriousgravity 10
Citation #02002D
29 CFR 1910.272(g)(3)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$0
Current$0
Other
Citation #03001
29 CFR 1910.146(g)(3)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$1,163
Current$1,163
Other
Citation #03002
29 CFR 1910.272(e)(1)View full regulation text on OSHA.gov
Initial$1,163
Current$1,163

Standard codes link to the regulation text on OSHA.gov. The text describes the rule itself; the specific findings of this inspection appear above. To see OSHA’s official record of this inspection, search activity number 345644249 at OSHA Establishment Search.

Reference

About OSHA inspections

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducts inspections under several triggers: programmed targeting of high-hazard industries, employee complaints, workplace accidents, fatalities, and follow-ups to prior citations.

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Citations

Each citation specifies a section of 29 CFR, a severity tier, and a proposed penalty. Employers can contest citations through OSHA’s informal conference or before the OSH Review Commission.

Open vs closed

An open case has not yet been administratively closed — citations may follow or the case may close without action.

💰
Current vs initial penalty

Initial penalty is the proposed amount at citation. Current penalty is the post-conference / settlement figure on file today.

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Trigger types

A = Accident, B = Complaint, H = Programmed, F = Follow-up. See the glossary for all codes.

About this inspection

OSHA classified this as Complaint — an inspection triggered by a worker complaint.

Sources

Cross-check with OSHA directly

This page draws from the OSHA Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) via the DOL Open Data Portal. For the authoritative record, look up activity number 345644249 directly: