Question 1

How many OSHA inspections has MOHAWK VALLEY PAPER CO INC had?

Accepted Answer

MOHAWK VALLEY PAPER CO INC has been inspected 8 times by OSHA between Feb 16, 1977 and Dec 13, 1983, with 0 violations and $0 in penalties on record.

Question 2

Does New York have its own OSHA program?

Accepted Answer

New York operates a partial state plan through the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL PESH program). This plan covers state and local government workers only. Private-sector employers in New York are covered by federal OSHA, which conducts inspections and enforces standards directly. New York City also has its own Department of Buildings that enforces construction safety requirements.

Question 3

Why do some OSHA inspections result in zero penalties?

Accepted Answer

Not every OSHA inspection results in penalties. Inspections may find no violations, or the violations cited may be classified as Other-than-Serious with penalties reduced or waived. OSHA considers several factors when determining penalties, including employer size (small employers receive reductions), good faith efforts (having an effective safety program), and history (first-time offenders may receive lower penalties).

Question 4

What is a planned (programmed) OSHA inspection?

Accepted Answer

Planned inspections are part of OSHA's proactive enforcement strategy. OSHA selects workplaces for inspection based on objective criteria such as industry injury rates, participation in National or Local Emphasis Programs (NEPs/LEPs), or targeting of specific high-hazard industries. Being selected for a planned inspection does not indicate that OSHA has received a complaint or that a specific hazard has been reported.

Question 5

What happens after OSHA issues a citation?

Accepted Answer

After OSHA issues citations, the employer has 15 working days to respond. They can accept the citation and pay the penalty, request an informal conference to negotiate penalties or abatement dates, or formally contest the citation before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC). If the employer contests only the penalty amount, they must still correct (abate) the cited hazards by the deadline. If the employer contests the citation itself, the abatement obligation is stayed pending the outcome of the contest proceedings.

Question 6

How often does OSHA update its penalty amounts?

Accepted Answer

OSHA adjusts maximum penalty amounts annually based on the Consumer Price Index, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. The most recent adjustment took effect in January 2025, setting the maximum for willful and repeat violations at $165,514 and for serious and other-than-serious violations at $16,550. These maximums apply to penalties assessed after the adjustment date, regardless of when the inspection occurred.

ID	Opened	Type	Scope	Viol.	Penalties
#12048088	Dec 13, 1983	Planned	Complete	0	$0
#10705432	Dec 5, 1980	Follow-Up	Partial	0	$0
#10705200	Dec 6, 1979	Complaint	Complete	0	$0
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