Retail Trade · Lakewood, NJ

Esmoke

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), Esmoke has a concerning safety record: 21 violations across 2 inspections. See the full breakdown below.

Top 5% by penalty81% serious
$97,500
OSHA penalties
21
Violations cited
2
OSHA inspections
$36,610
Back wages owed

Esmoke in Lakewood, NJ has been the subject of 2 OSHA workplace inspections and 21 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $97,500. Separately, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found $36,610 in back wages owed to 151 affected workers. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected Esmoke 2 times over 1 year - more than twice a year on average. These inspections turned up 21 violations, averaging 10.5 per inspection - an extremely dense concentration of citations. Its total OSHA penalty ranks in the top 5% of penalized employers nationally. Of these, 17 were classified as serious and 2 as willful - indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Against the Retail Trade industry average of 1 inspections per employer, this runs well above peers (2.5x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $36,610 in back wages owed to 151 affected workers. For comparison, Super Center Concepts, INC. in Lynwood, CA is another retail trade employer with 3 OSHA inspections on record and $133,500 in current penalties.

10.5
violations per inspection
81.0%
of violations were serious
98%
of penalized employers rank lower
$36,610
in back wages recovered

How Esmoke compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Retail Trade per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows Esmoke runs far above peers (33.9x 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

$97,500 Bottom 2% least affordable more affordable than 2% 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%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 4,205 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,885 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,052 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1,483 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Below this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1,120 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Below this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 792 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Below this entry. $50,000+: 5,101 U.S. employers with a penalty (5%). This entry ($97,500) is well above this band, the chart's rightmost open-ended bucket. This employer: $97,500 $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 Esmoke

The federal enforcement record for Esmoke in Lakewood, NJ includes 2 OSHA inspections and 21 violations, translating to 10.50 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 17 (81.0%) were classified as serious, 2 (9.5%) 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 $184,500 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $97,500 - a 47.2% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $48,750. Against the Retail Trade industry average of $2,879 per employer, this record runs far above peers (33.9x the sector average). The Wage and Hour Division added 1 case producing $36,610 in back wages owed to 151 affected workers.

Inspection activity spans from 2012-09-24 to 2012-09-24, a window of roughly 1 year.

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

2

First Inspection

2012-09-24

Last Inspection

2012-09-24

Inspection Span

1 yr

Violations / Inspection

10.5

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$48,750

Industry Avg / Inspection

$3,566

What this shows 2 inspections over 1 year, averaging 10.5 violations per visit. That's $48,750 per inspection vs. the Retail Trade average of $3,566.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

17

Serious

81.0% of total

2

Willful

9.5% of total

0

Repeat

0.0% of total

2

Other-Than-Serious

9.5% 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

$184,500

Current Penalty Amount

$97,500

Penalty Reduction

47.2%

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$134,110

What this shows Penalties were reduced by $87,000 from the initial assessment of $184,500. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
1
Back Wages Owed
$36,610
Employees Affected
151
WHD Violations
168
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$242
Avg Back Wages per Case
$36,610

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that Esmoke owed $36,610 in back wages to 151 employees across 1 case and 168 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: Retail Trade

How Esmoke compares to the Retail Trade sector, which has 12,990 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric Esmoke Industry Avg
Inspections 2 0.8
Violations 21 1.7
Total Penalty $97,500 $2,879
Avg Penalty per Inspection $48,750 $3,566

Nearby & Similar Employers in Retail Trade

Compare Esmoke vs IJ Logistic Services, Inc. side-by-side →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Esmoke safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, Esmoke's workplace safety record is concerning, with multiple serious compliance issues. The employer has 21 violations across 2 inspections, including 17 serious violations. Compared to Retail Trade industry peers, this is above average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does Esmoke have?
Esmoke has 21 OSHA violations on record, including 17 serious, 2 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $97,500.
How many OSHA inspections has Esmoke had?
Esmoke has had 2 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2012-09-24 and the most recent on 2012-09-24. This averages 10.5 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for Esmoke?
Esmoke has been assessed $97,500 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $184,500 (a 47.2% reduction). Additionally, $36,610 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does Esmoke have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. Esmoke has 17 serious violations, 2 willful 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 Esmoke been cited for wage theft?
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against Esmoke, resulting in $36,610 in back wages owed to 151 affected workers. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does Esmoke operate in?
Esmoke operates in the Retail Trade sector (NAICS code 453991). This industry has 12,990 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 10,487 total OSHA inspections and $37.39M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if Esmoke owes me wages?
If you believe Esmoke 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 $36,610 in back wages owed by this employer across 1 case.
How does Esmoke's safety record compare to industry average?
Esmoke's total OSHA penalty of $97,500 is above the Retail Trade industry average of $2,879 per employer (33.9x the average). The employer has 2 inspections compared to the industry average of 0.8 per employer. For a direct comparison, Super Center Concepts, INC. in Lynwood, CA is a similar retail trade employer with $133,500 in current penalties.

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What to check next

Esmoke'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.