Manufacturing · ALTAMONT, IL

BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC.

OSHA records show a mixed safety record: 5 violations across 2 inspections — below the Manufacturing industry average for penalties.

2
OSHA inspections
5
Violations cited
$2,520
OSHA penalties

BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. in ALTAMONT, IL has been the subject of 2 OSHA workplace inspections and 5 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $2,520. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. has been inspected 2 times by OSHA over 1 year. These inspections resulted in 5 violations, averaging 2.5 violations per inspection. Of these, 3 were classified as serious — indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Compared to the Manufacturing industry average of 3 inspections per employer, BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. has been inspected fewer frequently.

2.5
violations per inspection
60.0%
of violations were serious
0.15×
Manufacturing industry-avg penalty

How BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Manufacturing per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. sits below the Manufacturing per-employer average, a comparatively lighter enforcement footprint than its peers.

Source U.S. Department of Labor — OSHA enforcement extracts As of 2026

What the Data Says About BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC.

The federal enforcement record for BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. in ALTAMONT, IL includes 2 OSHA inspections and 5 violations, translating to 2.50 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 3 (60.0%) were classified as serious, 0 (0.0%) as willful, and 0 (0.0%) as repeat. Serious violations denote hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm; willful and repeat categories indicate intentional disregard or recurrence of previously cited hazards.

OSHA assessed $5,200 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $2,520 — a 51.5% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $1,260. Against the Manufacturing industry average of $16,300 per employer, this record runs below peers.

Inspection activity spans from 2013-03-13 to 2013-06-05, a window of roughly 1 year. This record draws directly from the U.S. Department of Labor's public enforcement data at data.dol.gov. Penalty amounts reflect final adjudicated figures after any settlement, informal conference, or formal contest. Workers, journalists, and researchers can use these figures to compare this employer's compliance posture against industry peers and to identify workplaces with elevated safety risks or repeat non-compliance.

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections
2
First Inspection
2013-03-13
Last Inspection
2013-06-05
Inspection Span
1 year
Violations per Inspection
2.5
Avg Penalty per Inspection
$1,260
Industry Avg per Inspection
$6,447

Violation Breakdown

3
Serious
60.0% of total
0
Willful
0.0% of total
0
Repeat
0.0% of total
2
Other-Than-Serious
40.0% of total

Serious violations involve hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm. Willful violations indicate intentional or knowing disregard of the law. Repeat violations are for hazards previously cited within the past 5 years.

Penalty Analysis

Initial Penalty Assessed
$5,200
Current Penalty Amount
$2,520
Penalty Reduction
51.5%

Penalties were reduced by $2,680 from the initial assessment of $5,200. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Industry Safety Context: Manufacturing

How BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. compares to the Manufacturing sector, which has 14,000 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. Industry Avg
Inspections 2 2.5
Violations 5 8.0
Total Penalty $2,520 $16,300
Avg Penalty per Inspection $1,260 $6,447

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC.'s workplace safety record is mixed, with some compliance concerns. The employer has 5 violations across 2 inspections, including 3 serious violations. Compared to Manufacturing industry peers, this is below average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. have?
BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. has 5 OSHA violations on record, including 3 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $2,520.
How many OSHA inspections has BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. had?
BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. has had 2 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2013-03-13 and the most recent on 2013-06-05. This averages 2.5 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC.?
BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. has been assessed $2,520 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $5,200 (a 51.5% reduction).
Does BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. has 3 serious violations. Serious violations involve hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Willful violations indicate the employer intentionally or knowingly disregarded the law.
What industry does BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. operate in?
BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. operates in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS code 323110). This industry has 14,000 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 35,397 total OSHA inspections and $228.20M in cumulative penalties.
What are my rights if I work at BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC.?
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employees at BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. have the right to a safe workplace, the right to report hazards without retaliation, the right to request an OSHA inspection, and the right to access their own exposure and medical records. Workers can also refuse dangerous work if they believe they face imminent danger and their employer has failed to address the hazard.
How do I file an OSHA complaint against BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC.?
You can file a complaint with OSHA online at osha.gov/workers/file-complaint, by calling 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), or by visiting your local OSHA area office. Complaints can be filed confidentially. OSHA is required to respond to all complaints and will prioritize those alleging imminent danger. You are protected from employer retaliation under Section 11(c) of the OSH Act.
How does BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC.'s safety record compare to industry average?
BETTER NEWSPAPERS, INC.'s total OSHA penalty of $2,520 is below the Manufacturing industry average of $16,300 per employer. The employer has 2 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.5 per employer.

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Data Sources & Methodology

Data as of 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA, WHD).

Source: OSHA Enforcement Data

Inspection and violation records from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, covering the period 2010–2026. Includes inspection dates, violation types (serious, willful, repeat, other-than-serious), and penalty amounts. Penalties shown are current assessed amounts and may differ from original citations due to settlement, contest, or reduction.

Source: Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Compliance actions from the WHD, covering enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), including minimum wage, overtime, and child labor violations. Back wages represent amounts owed to affected employees as determined by WHD investigations.

Employer Matching

Employers are matched across OSHA and WHD datasets by name, state, and city. Employers included in PlainWorker have 2 or more OSHA inspections or $1,000+ in WHD back wages. Data is updated monthly from data.dol.gov.

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