OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC

1330 E EMPIRE AVE, BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022 · Manufacturing

OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC in BENTON HARBOR, MI has been the subject of 5 OSHA workplace inspections and 55 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $28,376. Industry sector: Manufacturing. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

5
OSHA Inspections
55
Violations Cited
$28,376
OSHA Penalties

Safety Assessment

OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC has been inspected 5 times by OSHA over 6 years. These inspections resulted in 55 violations, averaging 11.0 violations per inspection. Of these, 31 were classified as serious — indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Compared to the Manufacturing industry average of 2 inspections per employer, OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC has been inspected more frequently.

What the Data Says About OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC

The federal enforcement record for OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC in BENTON HARBOR, MI includes 5 OSHA inspections and 55 violations, translating to 11.00 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 31 (56.4%) were classified as serious, 0 (0.0%) as willful, and 5 (9.1%) 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 $62,440 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $28,376 — a 54.6% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $5,675. Against the Manufacturing industry average of $17,948 per employer, this record runs above peers.

Inspection activity spans from 2011-01-21 to 2016-10-19, a window of roughly 6 years. 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
5
First Inspection
2011-01-21
Last Inspection
2016-10-19
Inspection Span
6 years
Violations per Inspection
11.0
Avg Penalty per Inspection
$5,675
Industry Avg per Inspection
$7,519

Violation Breakdown

31
Serious
56.4% of total
0
Willful
0.0% of total
5
Repeat
9.1% of total
19
Other-Than-Serious
34.5% 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
$62,440
Current Penalty Amount
$28,376
Penalty Reduction
54.6%

Penalties were reduced by $34,064 from the initial assessment of $62,440. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Industry Safety Context: Manufacturing

How OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC compares to the Manufacturing sector, which has 7,846 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC Industry Avg
Inspections 5 2.4
Violations 55 6.3
Total Penalty $28,376 $17,948
Avg Penalty per Inspection $5,675 $7,519

Related Data from Other Sources

Workplace Safety Guides

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC's workplace safety record is concerning, with multiple serious compliance issues. The employer has 55 violations across 5 inspections, including 31 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 OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC have?
OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC has 55 OSHA violations on record, including 31 serious, 0 willful, and 5 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $28,376.
How many OSHA inspections has OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC had?
OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC has had 5 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2011-01-21 and the most recent on 2016-10-19. This averages 11.0 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC?
OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC has been assessed $28,376 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $62,440 (a 54.6% reduction).
Does OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC has 31 serious violations, and 5 repeat 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 OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC operate in?
OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC operates in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS code 311513). This industry has 7,846 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 18,727 total OSHA inspections and $140.82M in cumulative penalties.
What are my rights if I work at OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC?
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employees at OLD EUROPE CHEESE 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 OLD EUROPE CHEESE 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 OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC's safety record compare to industry average?
OLD EUROPE CHEESE INC's total OSHA penalty of $28,376 is above the Manufacturing industry average of $17,948 per employer (1.6x the average). The employer has 5 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.4 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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