THE WESTERN SUGAR COOPERATIVE
3020 STATE AVE, BILLINGS, MT 59101 · NAICS 311313 Beet Sugar Manufacturing
Having inspection records is common for businesses in regulated industries. Data and methodology
Inspection records
Mar 13, 2024#347354847Mar 13, 2024Planned (H) · Complete scope, Health#347354847$11,6554 viol.4 violations$11,655 in penalties
Inspection #347354847
Dates
- Opened
- Mar 13, 2024
- Closing Conference Date
- Mar 13, 2024
- Final Order
- Jul 29, 2024
- Closed
- Aug 8, 2024
Inspection
- Advance Notice
- No
- Owner Type
- Private
- Union Status
- Yes
- Number of Employees
- 76
Violations and Penalties
- Total Violations
- 4
- Violation Types
- 4 other-than-serious
- Initial Penalties
- $11,655
- Penalties on Record
- $11,655
- Site Address
- 3020 State Avenue, Billings, MT 59107
- Industry
- 311313 Beet Sugar Manufacturing
Planned Inspection: This inspection record is categorized as a planned inspection in the DOL OSHA enforcement data. Planned inspections are part of OSHA's scheduled enforcement activity rather than being opened directly from a complaint or reported incident at that worksite.
Violations
Violation list (4 of 4 shown)
| Citation | Standard | Type | Instances | Exposed | Initial | Current | Abatement | Contest | Final Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01001 | 1910.179 Overhead and Gantry Cranes OSHA citation code: 19100179 H04 | Other | 1 | 1 | $4,995 | $4,995 | - | Jul 29, 2024 | |
| 01002 | 1910.253 Oxygen-Fuel Gas Welding and Cutting OSHA citation code: 19100253 B02 II | Other | 1 | 1 | $6,660 | $6,660 | - | Jul 29, 2024 | |
| 02001 | 1910.29 Fall Protection Systems and Criteria OSHA citation code: 19100029 B02 | Other | 1 | 1 | $0 | $0 | - | Jul 29, 2024 | |
| 02002 | 1910.179 Overhead and Gantry Cranes OSHA citation code: 19100179 L03 III D | Other | 1 | 1 | $0 | $0 | - | Jul 29, 2024 |
May 28, 2021#345335921May 28, 2021Referral (C) · Partial scope, Health#345335921$5,0001 viol.1 violation$5,000 in penalties
Inspection #345335921
Dates
- Opened
- May 28, 2021
- Closing Conference Date
- May 28, 2021
- Final Order
- Oct 18, 2021
- Closed
- Jan 17, 2022
Inspection
- Advance Notice
- No
- Owner Type
- Private
- Union Status
- Yes
- Number of Employees
- 1,250
- Related Activity
- 1 referral
Violations and Penalties
- Total Violations
- 1
- Violation Types
- 1 other-than-serious
- Initial Penalties
- $0
- Penalties on Record
- $5,000
- Site Address
- 3020 State Avenue, Billings, MT 59101
- Industry
- 311313 Beet Sugar Manufacturing
Referral Inspection: This inspection record is categorized as a referral inspection in the DOL OSHA enforcement data. Referral inspections can result from another agency, another OSHA activity, or another source referring a potential hazard to OSHA.
Violations
Violation list (1 of 1 shown)
| Citation | Standard | Type | Instances | Exposed | Initial | Current | Abatement | Contest | Final Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01001B | 1910.146 Permit-Required Confined Spaces OSHA citation code: 19100146 K01 II | Other | 1 | 234 | $0 | $5,000 | Dec 13, 2021 | - | Oct 18, 2021 |
Oct 25, 2016#341863157Oct 25, 2016Referral (C) · Partial scope, Safety#341863157$1,7881 viol.1 violation$1,788 in penalties
Inspection #341863157
Dates
- Opened
- Oct 25, 2016
- Closing Conference Date
- Oct 25, 2016
- Final Order
- Jan 17, 2017
- Closed
- Jan 17, 2017
Inspection
- Advance Notice
- No
- Owner Type
- Private
- Union Status
- Yes
- Number of Employees
- 200
- Related Activity
- 1 referral
Violations and Penalties
- Total Violations
- 1
- Violation Types
- 1 other-than-serious
- Initial Penalties
- $3,576
- Penalties on Record
- $1,788
- Site Address
- 3020 State Avenue, Billings, MT 59107
- Industry
- 311313 Beet Sugar Manufacturing
Referral Inspection: This inspection record is categorized as a referral inspection in the DOL OSHA enforcement data. Referral inspections can result from another agency, another OSHA activity, or another source referring a potential hazard to OSHA.
Violations
Violation list (1 of 1 shown)
| Citation | Standard | Type | Instances | Exposed | Initial | Current | Abatement | Contest | Final Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01001 | 1904.39 Reporting Fatalities, Hospitalizations, Amputations, and Losses of an Eye OSHA citation code: 19040039 A02 | Other | 1 | 1 | $3,576 | $1,788 | - | Jan 17, 2017 |
Oct 25, 2016#341863124Oct 25, 2016Follow-Up (F) · Partial scope, Health#341863124$00 viol.0 violations$0 in penalties
Inspection #341863124
Dates
- Opened
- Oct 25, 2016
- Closing Conference Date
- Oct 25, 2016
- Closed
- Oct 25, 2016
Inspection
- Advance Notice
- No
- Owner Type
- Private
- Union Status
- Yes
- Number of Employees
- 200
Violations and Penalties
- Total Violations
- 0
- Initial Penalties
- $0
- Penalties on Record
- $0
- Site Address
- 3020 State Avenue, Billings, MT 59107
- Industry
- 311313 Beet Sugar Manufacturing
Follow-Up Inspection: This inspection record is categorized as a follow-up inspection in the DOL OSHA enforcement data. Follow-up inspections are used by OSHA after earlier enforcement activity and can be used to check later compliance status.
Oct 25, 2016#341862944Oct 25, 2016Follow-Up (F) · Partial scope, Safety#341862944$00 viol.0 violations$0 in penalties
Inspection #341862944
Dates
- Opened
- Oct 25, 2016
- Closing Conference Date
- Oct 25, 2016
- Closed
- Oct 25, 2016
Inspection
- Advance Notice
- No
- Owner Type
- Private
- Union Status
- Yes
- Number of Employees
- 200
Violations and Penalties
- Total Violations
- 0
- Initial Penalties
- $0
- Penalties on Record
- $0
- Site Address
- 3020 State Avenue, Billings, MT 59101
- Industry
- 311313 Beet Sugar Manufacturing
Follow-Up Inspection: This inspection record is categorized as a follow-up inspection in the DOL OSHA enforcement data. Follow-up inspections are used by OSHA after earlier enforcement activity and can be used to check later compliance status.
Jan 4, 2016#341154862Jan 4, 2016Referral (C) · Partial scope, Health#341154862$02 viol.2 violations$0 in penalties
Inspection #341154862
Dates
- Opened
- Jan 4, 2016
- Closing Conference Date
- Jan 4, 2016
- Final Order
- Apr 15, 2016
- Closed
- Apr 15, 2016
Inspection
- Advance Notice
- Yes
- Owner Type
- Private
- Union Status
- Yes
- Number of Employees
- 100
- Related Activity
- 1 referral
Violations and Penalties
- Total Violations
- 2
- Violation Types
- 2 other-than-serious
- Initial Penalties
- $0
- Penalties on Record
- $0
- Site Address
- 3020 State Avenue, Billings, MT 59101
- Industry
- 311313 Beet Sugar Manufacturing
Referral Inspection: This inspection record is categorized as a referral inspection in the DOL OSHA enforcement data. Referral inspections can result from another agency, another OSHA activity, or another source referring a potential hazard to OSHA.
Violations
Violation list (2 of 2 shown)
| Citation | Standard | Type | Instances | Exposed | Initial | Current | Abatement | Contest | Final Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01001 | 1910.134 Respiratory Protection OSHA citation code: 19100134 F01 | Other | 1 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Apr 26, 2016 | - | Apr 15, 2016 |
| 01002 | 1910.134 Respiratory Protection OSHA citation code: 19100134 H02 I | Other | 2 | 3 | $0 | $0 | Apr 26, 2016 | - | Apr 15, 2016 |
Oct 4, 2015#340962141Oct 4, 2015FatalityFatality/Catastrophe (M) · Partial scope, SafetyFatality#340962141$115,90011 viol.11 violations$115,900 in penalties
Inspection #340962141
Dates
- Opened
- Oct 4, 2015
- Closing Conference Date
- Oct 4, 2015
- Final Order
- Apr 15, 2016
- Closed
- Jan 13, 2017
Inspection
- Advance Notice
- No
- Owner Type
- Private
- Union Status
- Yes
- Number of Employees
- 100
- Related Activity
- 1 accident
Violations and Penalties
- Total Violations
- 11
- Violation Types
- 8 serious, 1 repeat, 2 other-than-serious
- Initial Penalties
- $115,900
- Penalties on Record
- $115,900
- Site Address
- 3020 State Avenue, Billings, MT 59101
- Industry
- 311313 Beet Sugar Manufacturing
Fatality/Catastrophe Inspection: This inspection record is categorized as a fatality/catastrophe inspection in the DOL OSHA enforcement data.
Incident Investigation Summaries
Incident investigation summaries linked to this inspection through OSHA's accident and injury enforcement data. These summaries describe the reported incident. The enforcement outcome for the linked inspection is in the inspection details above.
Employee falls into a pulp dryer and is killed
Violations
Violation list (5 of 11 shown)
| Citation | Standard | Type | Instances | Exposed | Initial | Current | Abatement | Contest | Final Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01001 | 1910.23 Ladders OSHA citation code: 19100023 A02 | Serious | 1 | 4 | $5,500 | $5,500 | Apr 26, 2016 | - | Apr 15, 2016 |
| 01002 | 1910.23 Ladders OSHA citation code: 19100023 A08 II | Other | 1 | 3 | $6,600 | $6,600 | Apr 26, 2016 | - | Apr 15, 2016 |
| 01003 | 1910.212 General Requirements for All Machines (Machine Guarding) OSHA citation code: 19100212 A01 | Other | 1 | 6 | $3,300 | $3,300 | Apr 26, 2016 | - | Apr 15, 2016 |
| 01004A | 1910.219 Mechanical Power-Transmission Apparatus OSHA citation code: 19100219 D01 | Serious | 1 | 5 | $7,000 | $7,000 | Apr 26, 2016 | - | Apr 15, 2016 |
| 01004B | 1910.219 Mechanical Power-Transmission Apparatus OSHA citation code: 19100219 E03 I | Serious | 2 | 6 | $0 | $0 | Apr 26, 2016 | - | Apr 15, 2016 |
Showing the 5 violations listed first by citation identifier. This inspection has 11 total violations documented in the U.S. Department of Labor OSHA enforcement database. The complete violation list is available at enforcedata.dol.gov.
Jan 26, 2015#340205863Jan 26, 2015Complaint (B) · Partial scope, Safety#340205863$00 viol.0 violations$0 in penalties
Inspection #340205863
Dates
- Opened
- Jan 26, 2015
- Closing Conference Date
- Jan 26, 2015
- Closed
- Jan 26, 2015
Inspection
- Advance Notice
- No
- Owner Type
- Private
- Union Status
- Yes
- Number of Employees
- 230
- Related Activity
- 1 complaint
Violations and Penalties
- Total Violations
- 0
- Initial Penalties
- $0
- Penalties on Record
- $0
- Site Address
- 3020 State Avenue, Billings, MT 59101
- Industry
- 311313 Beet Sugar Manufacturing
Complaint Inspection: This inspection record is categorized as a complaint inspection in the DOL OSHA enforcement data. OSHA can open complaint-driven inspections after receiving safety or health complaints from workers or their representatives.
Jan 14, 2015#340206580Jan 14, 2015Complaint (B) · Partial scope, Health#340206580$00 viol.0 violations$0 in penalties
Inspection #340206580
Dates
- Opened
- Jan 14, 2015
- Closing Conference Date
- Jan 14, 2015
- Closed
- Mar 9, 2015
Inspection
- Advance Notice
- No
- Owner Type
- Private
- Union Status
- Yes
- Number of Employees
- 230
- Related Activity
- 1 complaint
Violations and Penalties
- Total Violations
- 0
- Initial Penalties
- $0
- Penalties on Record
- $0
- Site Address
- 3020 State Ave., Billings, MT 59101
- Industry
- 311313 Beet Sugar Manufacturing
Complaint Inspection: This inspection record is categorized as a complaint inspection in the DOL OSHA enforcement data. OSHA can open complaint-driven inspections after receiving safety or health complaints from workers or their representatives.
Jan 7, 2015#340167113Jan 7, 2015Follow-Up (F) · Complete scope, Safety#340167113$00 viol.0 violations$0 in penalties
Inspection #340167113
Dates
- Opened
- Jan 7, 2015
- Closing Conference Date
- Jan 7, 2015
- Closed
- Jan 7, 2015
Inspection
- Advance Notice
- No
- Owner Type
- Private
- Union Status
- Yes
- Number of Employees
- 230
Violations and Penalties
- Total Violations
- 0
- Initial Penalties
- $0
- Penalties on Record
- $0
- Site Address
- 3020 State Ave., Billings, MT 59101
- Industry
- 311313 Beet Sugar Manufacturing
Follow-Up Inspection: This inspection record is categorized as a follow-up inspection in the DOL OSHA enforcement data. Follow-up inspections are used by OSHA after earlier enforcement activity and can be used to check later compliance status.
Penalty amounts may differ from final amounts after settlement or judicial review. How to read these records
About these records
A company page groups inspections with the same normalized employer name, city and state; it is not a legal-entity identifier (how pages are grouped).
This page displays public OSHA enforcement data. Status text follows the DOL inspection record first and may include citation-level context when the inspection feed and citation records are out of sync. Penalty amounts shown reflect the latest penalty amounts on record in the DOL database and may differ from initial assessments or final amounts. This is not an official OSHA resource.
OSHA's public enforcement data does not publish a "guilty" or "not guilty" field for inspections. The closest outcome fields available are the citation counts, penalty amounts, contest dates, final-order dates, and the inspection close date shown on this page. How to interpret these status fields. How initial and current penalties are recorded.
OSHA may publish multiple citation rows in the same inspection with the same standard and penalty fields. Separate rows can still differ in OSHA metadata such as citation identifier, recorded instance count, exposed workers, or gravity value. Contest and Final Order columns show citation-level dates from OSHA's enforcement record. A dash means OSHA's record does not currently show that activity for the citation.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor OSHA incident investigation data (`osha_accident` + `osha_accident_injury`). Linked via `rel_insp_nr` to the inspection activity number (exact government key). Injury, body part, source and event values are OSHA's own codes. OSHA states that these fields are not coded according to the requirements under the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS). Only the values present in the OSHA record are listed; an incident with no value that resolves in OSHA's code table shows "Injury details not recorded". Where a record covers several people, each field lists every value recorded across them.
Understanding These Penalties
The maximum penalty for a serious violation in 2025 is $16,550 per violation. For willful violations, the range is $11,823 to $165,514. The current penalty column shows the latest amount on record in OSHA's database for each citation. When the current penalty differs from the initial penalty, OSHA's records show that the amount changed during the enforcement process, but this page does not determine the specific reason for each change. Penalty amounts are set by OSHA and adjusted annually for inflation.
15 inspections, 2009 to 2024. Each row is one inspection; point at or tap a row for its dates and totals.
Source: DOL OSHA enforcement data (inspections and violations), linked via activity_nr (exact government key).
Penalty changes: Amounts shown reflect what OSHA's enforcement record publishes. The reason for any change is not stated unless OSHA's record explicitly says so.
Short cases: When a case closed soon after it opened, the closed marker is drawn slightly to the right so both markers stay visible. Each row's card shows the exact dates.
Standards cited
Industry comparison
Food Manufacturing, 24,362 employers with OSHA inspections. Arithmetic from DOL records.
BLS 2024 survey: beet sugar manufacturing reported 6.8 injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers (total recordable cases, national, private industry; relative standard error 9.6%). This is an industry-wide average from a federal survey, not a measurement of this establishment. Source