CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY

311 W INSTITUTE PL, CHICAGO, IL 60610 · Transportation & Warehousing

CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY in CHICAGO, IL has been the subject of 6 OSHA workplace inspections and 11 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. The employer also has Wage and Hour Division (WHD) compliance actions on record, covering Fair Labor Standards Act enforcement including minimum wage and overtime violations. Industry sector: Transportation & Warehousing. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

6
OSHA Inspections
11
Violations Cited
$0
OSHA Penalties
$182,309
Back Wages Owed

Safety Assessment

CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY has been inspected 6 times by OSHA over 8 years. These inspections resulted in 11 violations, averaging 1.8 violations per inspection. Of these, 9 were classified as serious — indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Compared to the Transportation & Warehousing industry average of 2 inspections per employer, CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY has been inspected more frequently. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $182,309 in back wages owed to 6 workers.

What the Data Says About CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY

The federal enforcement record for CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY in CHICAGO, IL includes 6 OSHA inspections and 11 violations, translating to 1.83 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 9 (81.8%) 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 $6,600 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $0 — a 100.0% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $0. Against the Transportation & Warehousing industry average of $4,482 per employer, this record runs below peers. The Wage and Hour Division added 56 cases producing $182,309 in back wages owed to 6 affected workers.

Inspection activity spans from 2014-10-21 to 2022-07-18, a window of roughly 8 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
6
First Inspection
2014-10-21
Last Inspection
2022-07-18
Inspection Span
8 years
Violations per Inspection
1.8
Avg Penalty per Inspection
$0
Industry Avg per Inspection
$2,884

Violation Breakdown

9
Serious
81.8% of total
0
Willful
0.0% of total
0
Repeat
0.0% of total
2
Other-Than-Serious
18.2% 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.

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
56
Back Wages Owed
$182,309
Employees Affected
6
WHD Violations
15
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$30,385
Avg Back Wages per Case
$3,256

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY owed $182,309 in back wages to 6 employees across 56 cases and 15 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: Transportation & Warehousing

How CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY compares to the Transportation & Warehousing sector, which has 5,882 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY Industry Avg
Inspections 6 1.6
Violations 11 3.2
Total Penalty $0 $4,482
Avg Penalty per Inspection $0 $2,884

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY's workplace safety record is mixed, with some compliance concerns. The employer has 11 violations across 6 inspections, including 9 serious violations. Compared to Transportation & Warehousing industry peers, this is below average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY have?
CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY has 11 OSHA violations on record, including 9 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $0.
How many OSHA inspections has CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY had?
CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY has had 6 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2014-10-21 and the most recent on 2022-07-18. This averages 1.8 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY?
CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY has been assessed $0 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $6,600 (a 100.0% reduction). Additionally, $182,309 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY has 9 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 CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY been cited for wage theft?
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 56 enforcement cases against CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY, resulting in $182,309 in back wages owed to 6 affected employees. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY operate in?
CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY operates in the Transportation & Warehousing sector (NAICS code 485999). This industry has 5,882 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 9,142 total OSHA inspections and $26.36M in cumulative penalties.
What are my rights if I work at CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY?
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employees at CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY 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 CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY?
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.
What should I do if CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY owes me wages?
If you believe CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY 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 $182,309 in back wages owed by this employer across 56 cases.
How does CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY's safety record compare to industry average?
CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY's total OSHA penalty of $0 is below the Transportation & Warehousing industry average of $4,482 per employer. The employer has 6 inspections compared to the industry average of 1.6 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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