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Manufacturing · Ames, IA

Custom Steel Service

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), Custom Steel Service has a concerning safety record: 7 violations across 2 inspections. See the full breakdown below.

Lower half by penalty86% serious
$2,250
OSHA penalties
7
Violations cited
2
OSHA inspections
#75,238
of 100,495 penalized employers

Custom Steel Service in Ames, IA has been the subject of 2 OSHA workplace inspections and 7 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $2,250. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected Custom Steel Service 2 times over 1 year - more than twice a year on average. These inspections resulted in 7 violations, averaging 3.5 per inspection, above what's typical for a single visit. Its total OSHA penalty ranks in the lower half of penalized employers nationally. Of these, 6 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. For comparison, Nordyne LLC in Dyersburg, TN is another manufacturing employer with 2 OSHA inspections on record and $2,250 in current penalties.

3.5
violations per inspection
85.7%
of violations were serious
25%
of penalized employers rank lower

How Custom Steel Service compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Manufacturing per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows Custom Steel Service runs well below peers (0.15x 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

$2,250 Top 25% most affordable more affordable than 75% of 100,495 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 44,435 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). This entry sits in this band. $5,000–$10,000: 20,628 U.S. employers with a penalty (21%). Above this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,165 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Above this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,629 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). Above this entry. $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 Custom Steel Service

The federal enforcement record for Custom Steel Service in Ames, IA includes 2 OSHA inspections and 7 violations, translating to 3.50 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 6 (85.7%) 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 $4,500 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $2,250 - a 50.0% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $1,125. Against the Manufacturing industry average of $15,410 per employer, this record runs well below peers (0.15x the sector average).

Inspection activity spans from 2012-11-26 to 2013-09-30, a window of roughly 1 year.

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

2

First Inspection

2012-11-26

Last Inspection

2013-09-30

Inspection Span

1 yr

Violations / Inspection

3.5

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$1,125

Industry Avg / Inspection

$6,092

What this shows 2 inspections over 1 year, averaging 3.5 violations per visit. That's $1,125 per inspection vs. the Manufacturing average of $6,092.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

6

Serious

85.7% of total

0

Willful

0.0% of total

0

Repeat

0.0% of total

1

Other-Than-Serious

14.3% 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

$4,500

Current Penalty Amount

$2,250

Penalty Reduction

50.0%

What this shows Penalties were reduced by $2,250 from the initial assessment of $4,500. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Industry Safety Context: Manufacturing

How Custom Steel Service compares to the Manufacturing sector, which has 45,665 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric Custom Steel Service Industry Avg
Inspections 2 2.5
Violations 7 7.8
Total Penalty $2,250 $15,410
Avg Penalty per Inspection $1,125 $6,092
View all 45,665 employers in Manufacturing →

Nearby & Similar Employers in Manufacturing

3m Company, INC.
Decatur, AL
3 inspections $2,250
Shamrock Corporation
Greensboro, NC
2 inspections $2,250
Sapphire Scientific INC.
Prescott, AZ
2 inspections $2,250
Atk Space Systems INC.
Clearfield, UT
2 inspections $2,250
Nordyne LLC
Dyersburg, TN
2 inspections $2,250

Compare Custom Steel Service vs 3m Company, INC. side-by-side →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Custom Steel Service safe to work at? ▼
Based on OSHA records, Custom Steel Service's workplace safety record is concerning, with multiple serious compliance issues. The employer has 7 violations across 2 inspections, including 6 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 Custom Steel Service have? ▼
Custom Steel Service has 7 OSHA violations on record, including 6 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $2,250.
How many OSHA inspections has Custom Steel Service had? ▼
Custom Steel Service has had 2 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2012-11-26 and the most recent on 2013-09-30. This averages 3.5 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for Custom Steel Service? ▼
Custom Steel Service has been assessed $2,250 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $4,500 (a 50.0% reduction).
Does Custom Steel Service have any serious or willful violations? ▼
Yes. Custom Steel Service has 6 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 Custom Steel Service operate in? ▼
Custom Steel Service operates in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS code 332312). This industry has 45,665 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 115,522 total OSHA inspections and $703.72M in cumulative penalties.
How does Custom Steel Service's safety record compare to industry average? ▼
Custom Steel Service's total OSHA penalty of $2,250 is below the Manufacturing industry average of $15,410 per employer. The employer has 2 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.5 per employer. For a direct comparison, Nordyne LLC in Dyersburg, TN is a similar manufacturing employer with $2,250 in current penalties.

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Manufacturing Industry

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What to check next

Custom Steel Service'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.