Methodology · sw-risk-v1.0.0
How the assessment is built
Every assessment is derived only from public government records about a business entity or facility, and is always shown on top of the specific records that produced it. We publish this methodology so the assessment is an opinion based on disclosed facts, never a hidden verdict.
The five components
A facility's numeric score (0–100) is a weighted blend of five conduct-based components, each built from official records. Newer adverse records weigh more than old ones. There is no location- or crime-based component — a facility is assessed on its own record, not its ZIP code.
| Component | Weight | Primary sources |
|---|---|---|
| OSHA safety | 0.33 | OSHA enforcement inspections & citations; OSHA ITA injury data |
| FDA food safety | 0.22 | openFDA recalls; FDA inspection classifications (NAI/VAI/OAI) |
| EPA environmental | 0.17 | EPA ECHO violations (CAA/CWA/RCRA/SDWA) |
| Entity / exclusions | 0.17 | SAM.gov exclusions & debarment (entity-only) |
| FMCSA transport | 0.11 | FMCSA safety / out-of-service (transport arm) |
Source coverage
Coverage is reported as reviewed, source-backed public records — not complete national warehouse coverage. Source families vary by facility and are shown on each profile.
Regulatory spine
EPA FRS/ECHO, OSHA/DOL, SAM.gov, FMCSA, CBP/FIRMS and other official records.
Physical discovery
OSM, Google Places, official directories and operator websites when those records are reviewed.
The bands
- Clear0–19
- Moderate concern20–44
- Elevated concern45–69
- Significant concern70–100
- Insufficient datanot scored
Absence of data is not safety
When we have searched fewer than half of the datasets for a facility, we report Insufficient dataand show no numeric score. This is never a statement that the facility is safe — only that there aren't enough public records to assess it yet.
Freshness & disputes
Every record shows when the underlying event occurred and when we retrieved it. Records that go stale relative to their source's update cadence are flagged and excluded from the numeric score. If you believe a record is wrong or misattributed, email disputes@vetwarehouses.com and we will investigate and correct or annotate the record.
What we don't do
We report on business entities and facilities. We do not compile reports on individuals, we do not sell consumer data, and we are not a consumer reporting agency. Facilities that resolve to a natural person (e.g. a sole proprietorship) are held out of the public directory pending review, because a report about a person is a different thing under the law than a report about a company.