Manufacturing · Luverne, AL

Chowel Weldparts, INC.

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), Chowel Weldparts, INC. has a concerning safety record: 14 violations across 2 inspections. See the full breakdown below.

Top 25% by penalty79% serious
$19,784
OSHA penalties
14
Violations cited
2
OSHA inspections
$7,997
Back wages owed

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. Its total OSHA penalty ranks in 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
82%
of penalized employers rank lower
$7,997
in back wages recovered

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 100,495 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 44,435 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 20,628 U.S. employers with a penalty (21%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,165 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,629 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). This entry sits in this band. $20,000–$25,000: 4,205 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Above this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,885 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Above this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,052 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Above this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1,483 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1,120 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 792 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 5,101 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

What the Data Says About Chowel Weldparts, INC.

The federal enforcement record for Chowel Weldparts, INC. in Luverne, AL includes 2 OSHA inspections and 14 violations, translating to 7.00 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 11 (78.6%) 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 $33,490 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $19,784 - a 40.9% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $9,892. Against the Manufacturing industry average of $15,410 per employer, this record runs moderately above peers (1.3x the sector average). The Wage and Hour Division added 1 case producing $7,997 in back wages owed to 10 affected workers.

Inspection activity spans from 2014-03-18 to 2025-03-05, a window of roughly 11 years.

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

$6,092

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 $6,092.

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 Case
$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 45,665 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric Chowel Weldparts, INC. Industry Avg
Inspections 2 2.5
Violations 14 7.8
Total Penalty $19,784 $15,410
Avg Penalty per Inspection $9,892 $6,092

Nearby & Similar Employers in Manufacturing

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

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 45,665 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 115,522 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.
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 $15,410 per employer (1.3x the average). The employer has 2 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.5 per employer. For a direct comparison, Darling International INC in Kansas City, MO is a similar manufacturing employer with $27,780 in current penalties.

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What to check next

Chowel Weldparts, INC.'s record is one establishment in a larger pattern. Use it as a research checklist, not a verdict on the employer overall.

These figures are the federal enforcement record on file and reflect past inspections, not a statement about current workplace conditions. See the disclaimer for how to read them.

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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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.