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Employers › AL

Manufacturing · Luverne, AL

Chowel Weldparts, INC.

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), Chowel Weldparts, INC. ranks #17,807 of 99,447 penalized U.S. employers by total current penalty, with a concerning safety record: 14 violations across 2 inspections.

Top 25% by penalty79% serious
$19,784
OSHA penalties
14
Violations cited
2
OSHA inspections
#17,807
of 99,447 penalized employers

Chowel Weldparts, INC. in Luverne, AL has been the subject of 2 OSHA workplace inspections and 14 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $19,784. Federal wage-and-hour enforcement records also show 11 WHD violations against this employer under the Fair Labor Standards Act. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected Chowel Weldparts, INC. 2 times across a longer 11-year span, an infrequent cadence. These inspections resulted in 14 violations, averaging 7.0 per inspection - a notably high rate. According to OSHA enforcement records, its total current penalty ranks #17,807 of 99,447 penalized U.S. employers (the top quarter of penalized employers nationally). Of these, 11 were classified as serious - indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Against the Manufacturing industry average of 3 inspections per employer, this runs moderately below peers (0.8x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $7,997 in back wages owed to 10 affected workers. For comparison, Darling International INC in Kansas City, MO is another manufacturing employer with 3 OSHA inspections on record and $27,780 in current penalties.

7.0
violations per inspection
78.6%
of violations were serious
#17,807
of 99,447 penalized employers
$7,997
in back wages recovered

Compliance score

F 41/100
  • F OSHA safety compliance: 14 violations across 2 OSHA inspections (7.0 per inspection), vs. national p10 0.0 (best) / p90 5.5 (worst) among 145,626 inspected employers.
  • B Wage & hour compliance: $8K in back wages owed across 1 WHD case ($8K per case), vs. national p10 $2K (best) / p90 $58K (worst) among 91,622 employers with a WHD case on file.
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How Chowel Weldparts, INC. compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Manufacturing per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows Chowel Weldparts, INC. runs moderately above peers (1.3x the sector average) in total OSHA penalties.

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

Where this penalty ranks nationally

Total current OSHA penalty vs every U.S. employer with a nonzero penalty

$19,784 Bottom 18% least affordable more affordable than 18% of 99,447 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 43,959 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 20,304 U.S. employers with a penalty (20%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,027 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,546 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). This entry sits in this band. $20,000–$25,000: 4,175 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Above this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,877 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Above this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,036 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Above this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1,493 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Above this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1,095 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 785 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 5,150 U.S. employers with a penalty (5%). Above this entry. This employer $0 $55,000 every penalized U.S. employer, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more U.S. employers with a penalty. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts · 2026

Does more inspection scrutiny mean more findings?

Each dot is one of 21 Manufacturing employers with an OSHA inspection on record, placed by inspections and violations cited. The highlighted dot is Chowel Weldparts, INC..

Frequently inspected, many findingsRarely inspected, many findingsFrequently inspected, clean recordBelow median on both1.92.022.02.0011.823.635.447.1OSHA inspectionsViolations citedU.S. NONWOVENS CORP., OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 19HUNTINGTON SOLUTIONS…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 9PURPOSE BUILT BRANDS, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 19SOUTHERN FOODS GROUP…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 29UNIPRES SOUTHEAST U.…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 11FELKER BROTHERS CORP…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 18BHARAT FORGE AMERICA…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 45V. T. HALTER MARINE,…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 14C & C MACHINING, INC, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 25U-HAUL CO. OF PENNSY…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 3LIFEWAY FOODS, INC., OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 15GREATWIDE DISTRIBUTI…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 6STRATEGIC MATERIALS …, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 5BUD MANUFACTURING, I…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 25WLS STAMPING COMPANY, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 6MOVEERO, INC., OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 11MARTIN MIDSTREAM PAR…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 6PHOENIX TUBE CO., OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 5KINETICS NOISE CONTROL, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 12ASPIRE PHARMACEUTICALS, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 2Chowel Weldparts, INC., OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 14
Chowel Weldparts, INC. has 2 OSHA inspections on record and 14 violations cited. The crosshair marks the median among these Manufacturing peers. Across this sector's tracked employers, more inspections is moderately associated with more violations found -- not a coincidence, but not a guarantee either.

Chowel Weldparts, INC. in the Manufacturing enforcement ledger

Manufacturing sector: Chowel Weldparts, INC. is the #8,621 heaviest OSHA penalty carrier of 35,243 employers with nonzero fines ($19,784). On wage-and-hour enforcement alone, Chowel Weldparts, INC. ranks #2,557 among 4,429 Manufacturing employers with WHD recoveries ($7,997).

Combined federal exposure here: $19,784 OSHA penalties plus $7,997 WHD back wages (28.8% of the combined total is wage recovery).

How Chowel Weldparts, INC. Compares

Chowel Weldparts, INC.'s 7.00 violations per inspection compares to the Manufacturing sector average of 8.0 violations per employer.

Against the Manufacturing industry average of $15,763 per employer, this employer's current OSHA penalty runs moderately above peers (1.3x the sector average).

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

2

First Inspection

2014-03-18

Last Inspection

2025-03-05

Inspection Span

11 yrs

Violations / Inspection

7.0

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$9,892

Industry Avg / Inspection

$6,093

What this shows 2 inspections over 11 years, averaging 7.0 violations per visit. That's $9,892 per inspection vs. the Manufacturing average of $6,093.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

11

Serious

78.6% of total

0

Willful

0.0% of total

0

Repeat

0.0% of total

3

Other-Than-Serious

21.4% of total

What this shows 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.

Enforcement detail

Penalty Analysis

Initial Penalty Assessed

$33,490

Current Penalty Amount

$19,784

Penalty Reduction

40.9%

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$27,781

What this shows Penalties were reduced by $13,706 from the initial assessment of $33,490. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
1
Back Wages Owed
$7,997
Employees Affected
10
WHD Violations
11
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$800
Avg Back Wages per CaseBelow average
$7,997

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that Chowel Weldparts, INC. owed $7,997 in back wages to 10 employees across 1 case and 11 violations. WHD enforces federal labor laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), covering minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor standards.

Industry Safety Context: Manufacturing

How Chowel Weldparts, INC. compares to the Manufacturing sector, which has 44,645 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric Chowel Weldparts, INC. Industry Avg
Inspections 2 2.6
Violations 14 8.0
Total Penalty $19,784 $15,763
Avg Penalty per Inspection $9,892 $6,093
View all 44,645 employers in Manufacturing →

Nationwide Manufacturing peers with similar penalties or inspection counts

Two OSHA-record peer sets for Chowel Weldparts, INC., both outside AL so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment.

Similar current OSHA penalty

Nearest same-sector employers by current assessed penalty ($19,784 here).

Polymer Corporation $19,785 MA Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, INC. $19,783 CO Converting Technology, INC. $19,782 WI HMF Express, LLC $19,780 NC

Similar OSHA inspection count

Same-sector employers with a comparable inspection history outside this state (2 inspections here).

U.S. Nonwovens CORP. 2 insp. Hauppauge, NY Huntington Solutions LLC 2 insp. Radford, VA Purpose Built Brands 2 insp. Gurnee, IL Southern Foods Group, LLC DBA Meadow Gold Dairies 2 insp. Englewood, CO

Nearby & Similar Employers in Manufacturing

Showing 5 of 44644 other employers tracked in this sector.

Darling International INC
Kansas City, MO
3 inspections $27,780
Vegas Fastener Manufacturing, LLC
Las Vegas, NV
5 inspections $27,788
Eason Portable Buildings
West Monroe, LA
2 inspections $17,137
Wisconsin Whey Protein INC.
Darlington, WI
2 inspections $27,792
Crounse Corporation
Paducah, KY
3 inspections $27,766

Compare Chowel Weldparts, INC. vs Darling International INC side-by-side →

What to do with this record

Use Chowel Weldparts, INC.'s enforcement history as one data point, not the whole picture.

  • A single employer's record can look unusual in isolation. Compare Chowel Weldparts, INC. against Darling International INC, a similarly-sized employer in the same sector, before drawing conclusions. Compare side-by-side
  • See whether Chowel Weldparts, INC.'s inspection and penalty record is typical for Manufacturing or an outlier against the sector's own average. View the Manufacturing sector
  • Chowel Weldparts, INC. also carries $7,997 in Wage and Hour Division back-wages, a separate enforcement track from OSHA safety violations. How wage-theft enforcement works

Figures reflect closed OSHA and WHD federal enforcement actions on record (2010–2026); not every workplace issue results in an inspection or investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chowel Weldparts, INC. safe to work at? ▼
Based on OSHA records, Chowel Weldparts, INC.'s workplace safety record is concerning, with multiple serious compliance issues. The employer has 14 violations across 2 inspections, including 11 serious violations. Compared to Manufacturing industry peers, this is above average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does Chowel Weldparts, INC. have? ▼
Chowel Weldparts, INC. has 14 OSHA violations on record, including 11 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $19,784.
How many OSHA inspections has Chowel Weldparts, INC. had? ▼
Chowel Weldparts, INC. has had 2 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2014-03-18 and the most recent on 2025-03-05. This averages 7.0 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for Chowel Weldparts, INC.? ▼
Chowel Weldparts, INC. has been assessed $19,784 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $33,490 (a 40.9% reduction). Additionally, $7,997 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does Chowel Weldparts, INC. have any serious or willful violations? ▼
Yes. Chowel Weldparts, INC. has 11 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.
Has Chowel Weldparts, INC. been cited for wage theft? ▼
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against Chowel Weldparts, INC., resulting in $7,997 in back wages owed to 10 affected workers. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does Chowel Weldparts, INC. operate in? ▼
Chowel Weldparts, INC. operates in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS code 336390). This industry has 44,645 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 115,492 total OSHA inspections and $703.72M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if Chowel Weldparts, INC. owes me wages? ▼
If you believe Chowel Weldparts, INC. owes you wages, you can file a complaint with the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints or by calling 1-866-487-9243. WHD investigates violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act including unpaid minimum wage, overtime, and unauthorized deductions. The DOL has previously found $7,997 in back wages owed by this employer across 1 case.
Where does Chowel Weldparts, INC. rank nationally on OSHA penalties? ▼
Among the 99,447 U.S. employers with a nonzero current OSHA penalty in PlainWorker's corpus, Chowel Weldparts, INC. ranks #17,807 (the top quarter of penalized employers nationally). The ordinal is a live COUNT of employers with a lower total_current_penalty; see the methodology page for the exact derivation.
How does Chowel Weldparts, INC.'s safety record compare to industry average? ▼
Chowel Weldparts, INC.'s total OSHA penalty of $19,784 is above the Manufacturing industry average of $15,763 per employer (1.3x the average). The employer has 2 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.6 per employer. For a direct comparison, Darling International INC in Kansas City, MO is a similar manufacturing employer with $27,780 in current penalties.
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.

Verify with OSHA establishment search →

Every figure on PlainWorker is rendered directly from official U.S. Department of Labor OSHA and Wage & Hour Division enforcement records, no number is typed in by an editor. This employer's ratios (penalty-per-violation, industry comparisons) are computed live from the 2 inspections on record. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.