PlainWorker
Employers › OR

Public Administration · Portland, OR

City of Portland

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), City of Portland ranks #8,308 of 99,447 penalized U.S. employers by total current penalty, with a concerning safety record: 38 violations across 35 inspections.

Top 10% by penalty55% serious
$35,555
OSHA penalties
38
Violations cited
35
OSHA inspections
#8,308
of 99,447 penalized employers

City of Portland in Portland, OR has been the subject of 35 OSHA workplace inspections and 38 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $35,555. Separately, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found $0 in back wages owed to an undisclosed number of workers. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has kept close, sustained watch on City of Portland: 35 inspections in 5 years, several times a year. These inspections resulted in 38 violations, averaging 1.1 per inspection. According to OSHA enforcement records, its total current penalty ranks #8,308 of 99,447 penalized U.S. employers (the top 10% of penalized employers nationally). Of these, 21 were classified as serious - indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Against the Public Administration industry average of 3 inspections per employer, this runs far above peers (11.1x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $0 in back wages owed to an undisclosed number of workers. For comparison, CA Motor Vehicles in Sacramento, CA is another public administration employer with 19 OSHA inspections on record and $35,835 in current penalties.

1.1
violations per inspection
55.3%
of violations were serious
#8,308
of 99,447 penalized employers
$0
in back wages recovered

Compliance score

B 83/100
  • C OSHA safety compliance: 38 violations across 35 OSHA inspections (1.1 per inspection), vs. national p10 0.0 (best) / p90 5.5 (worst) among 145,626 inspected employers.
  • A Wage & hour compliance: $0 in back wages owed across 1 WHD case ($0 per case), vs. national p10 $2K (best) / p90 $58K (worst) among 91,622 employers with a WHD case on file.
Open my watchlist

How City of Portland compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Public Administration per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows City of Portland runs far above peers (13.6x 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

$35,555 Bottom 8% least affordable more affordable than 8% of 99,447 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 43,959 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 20,304 U.S. employers with a penalty (20%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,027 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,546 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 4,175 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,877 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,036 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1,493 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$45,000: 1,095 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 785 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 5,150 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

Does more inspection scrutiny mean more findings?

Each dot is one of 21 Public Administration employers with an OSHA inspection on record, placed by inspections and violations cited. The highlighted dot is City of Portland.

Frequently inspected, many findingsRarely inspected, many findingsFrequently inspected, clean recordBelow median on both21.325.429.533.637.85.032.359.586.7114.0OSHA inspectionsViolations citedDCR, OSHA inspections: 37 · Violations cited: 39DE, OSHA inspections: 32 · Violations cited: 35THE PRESIDIO TRUST, OSHA inspections: 30 · Violations cited: 71BUFFALO CITY FD, OSHA inspections: 30 · Violations cited: 47MUNICIPIO DE ARECIBO, OSHA inspections: 30 · Violations cited: 47AEP, OSHA inspections: 29 · Violations cited: 30NEWARK FIRE DEPARTMENT, OSHA inspections: 28 · Violations cited: 37CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS, OSHA inspections: 27 · Violations cited: 17MUNICIPALITY OF ANCH…, OSHA inspections: 27 · Violations cited: 109MUNICIPIO AUTONOMO D…, OSHA inspections: 26 · Violations cited: 19MUNICIPIO AUTONOMO D…, OSHA inspections: 26 · Violations cited: 74TOWN OF BETHEL, OSHA inspections: 25 · Violations cited: 109NYCFD HEADQUARTERS, OSHA inspections: 24 · Violations cited: 10IRVINGTON HOUSING AU…, OSHA inspections: 24 · Violations cited: 84HILL AIR FORCE BASE, OSHA inspections: 24 · Violations cited: 100DS, OSHA inspections: 23 · Violations cited: 47TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR, OSHA inspections: 23 · Violations cited: 64CITY OF STOCKTON, OSHA inspections: 22 · Violations cited: 14TOWN OF EAST HARTFORD, OSHA inspections: 22 · Violations cited: 53CITY OF SEATTLE, OSHA inspections: 22 · Violations cited: 10City of Portland, OSHA inspections: 35 · Violations cited: 38
City of Portland has 35 OSHA inspections on record and 38 violations cited. The crosshair marks the median among these Public Administration peers. Across this sector's tracked employers, more inspections is moderately associated with more violations found -- not a coincidence, but not a guarantee either.

City of Portland in the Public Administration enforcement ledger

Public Administration sector: City of Portland is the #182 heaviest OSHA penalty carrier of 1,870 employers with nonzero fines ($35,555).

Combined federal exposure here: $35,555 OSHA penalties plus $0 WHD back wages (0.0% of the combined total is wage recovery).

How City of Portland Compares

City of Portland's 1.09 violations per inspection compares to the Public Administration sector average of 6.4 violations per employer.

Against the Public Administration industry average of $2,606 per employer, this employer's current OSHA penalty runs far above peers (13.6x the sector average).

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

35

First Inspection

2010-03-04

Last Inspection

2014-09-04

Inspection Span

5 yrs

Violations / Inspection

1.1

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$1,016

Industry Avg / Inspection

$827

What this shows 35 inspections over 5 years, averaging 1.1 violations per visit. That's $1,016 per inspection vs. the Public Administration average of $827.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

21

Serious

55.3% of total

0

Willful

0.0% of total

3

Repeat

7.9% of total

14

Other-Than-Serious

36.8% 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

$35,825

Current Penalty Amount

$35,555

Penalty Reduction

0.8%

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$35,555

What this shows Penalties were reduced by $270 from the initial assessment of $35,825. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
1
Back Wages Owed
$0
Employees Affected
0
WHD Violations
1

Industry Safety Context: Public Administration

How City of Portland compares to the Public Administration sector, which has 9,693 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric City of Portland Industry Avg
Inspections 35 3.2
Violations 38 6.4
Total Penalty $35,555 $2,606
Avg Penalty per Inspection $1,016 $827
View all 9,693 employers in Public Administration →

Nationwide Public Administration peers with similar penalties or inspection counts

Two OSHA-record peer sets for City of Portland, both outside OR so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment.

Similar current OSHA penalty

Nearest same-sector employers by current assessed penalty ($35,555 here).

Allamuchy Volunteer Fire Department $35,700 NJ CA Motor Vehicles $35,835 CA County of Sussex, Division of Public Works, Andover Road Garage $36,000 NJ Department of Corrections, State of Iowa $35,064 IA

Similar OSHA inspection count

Same-sector employers with a comparable inspection history outside this state (35 inspections here).

DCR 37 insp. Ponce, PR DE 32 insp. Bayamon, PR Buffalo City FD 30 insp. Buffalo, NY The Presidio Trust 30 insp. San Francisco, CA

Nearby & Similar Employers in Public Administration

Showing 5 of 9692 other employers tracked in this sector.

West Tennessee Detention Facility
Mason, TN
0 inspections $0
The Transition House, Inc. - Dinsmore
Saint Cloud, FL
0 inspections $0
Allamuchy Volunteer Fire Department
Allamuchy, NJ
6 inspections $35,700
CA Motor Vehicles
Sacramento, CA
19 inspections $35,835
Palmetto Cyber, LLC
North Augusta, SC
0 inspections $0

Compare City of Portland vs West Tennessee Detention Facility side-by-side →

What to do with this record

Use City of Portland's enforcement history as one data point, not the whole picture.

  • A single employer's record can look unusual in isolation. Compare City of Portland against West Tennessee Detention Facility, a similarly-sized employer in the same sector, before drawing conclusions. Compare side-by-side
  • See whether City of Portland's inspection and penalty record is typical for Public Administration or an outlier against the sector's own average. View the Public Administration sector
  • City of Portland also carries $0 in Wage and Hour Division back-wages, a separate enforcement track from OSHA safety violations. How wage-theft enforcement works

Figures reflect closed OSHA and WHD federal enforcement actions on record (2010–2026); not every workplace issue results in an inspection or investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Portland safe to work at? ▼
Based on OSHA records, City of Portland's workplace safety record is concerning, with multiple serious compliance issues. The employer has 38 violations across 35 inspections, including 21 serious violations. Compared to Public Administration industry peers, this is above average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does City of Portland have? ▼
City of Portland has 38 OSHA violations on record, including 21 serious, 0 willful, and 3 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $35,555.
How many OSHA inspections has City of Portland had? ▼
City of Portland has had 35 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2010-03-04 and the most recent on 2014-09-04. This averages 1.1 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for City of Portland? ▼
City of Portland has been assessed $35,555 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $35,825 (a 0.8% reduction). Additionally, $0 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does City of Portland have any serious or willful violations? ▼
Yes. City of Portland has 21 serious violations, and 3 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.
Has City of Portland been cited for wage theft? ▼
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against City of Portland, resulting in $0 in back wages owed to an undisclosed number of workers. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does City of Portland operate in? ▼
City of Portland operates in the Public Administration sector (NAICS code 921110). This industry has 9,693 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 30,559 total OSHA inspections and $25.26M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if City of Portland owes me wages? ▼
If you believe City of Portland 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 $0 in back wages owed by this employer across 1 case.
Where does City of Portland rank nationally on OSHA penalties? ▼
Among the 99,447 U.S. employers with a nonzero current OSHA penalty in PlainWorker's corpus, City of Portland ranks #8,308 (the top 10% of penalized employers nationally). The ordinal is a live COUNT of employers with a lower total_current_penalty; see the methodology page for the exact derivation.
How does City of Portland's safety record compare to industry average? ▼
City of Portland's total OSHA penalty of $35,555 is above the Public Administration industry average of $2,606 per employer (13.6x the average). The employer has 35 inspections compared to the industry average of 3.2 per employer. For a direct comparison, CA Motor Vehicles in Sacramento, CA is a similar public administration employer with $35,835 in current penalties.
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.

Verify with OSHA establishment search →

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 35 inspections on record. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.