Healthcare & Social Assistance · NEW YORK, NY

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

OSHA records show a mixed safety record: 3 violations across 3 inspections — above the Healthcare & Social Assistance industry average for penalties.

3
OSHA inspections
3
Violations cited
$8,925
OSHA penalties
$0
Back wages owed

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY in NEW YORK, NY has been the subject of 3 OSHA workplace inspections and 3 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $8,925. 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. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY has been inspected 3 times by OSHA over 14 years. These inspections resulted in 3 violations, averaging 1.0 violations per inspection. Of these, 3 were classified as serious — indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Compared to the Healthcare & Social Assistance industry average of 1 inspections per employer, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY has been inspected more frequently. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $0 in back wages owed to 0 workers.

1.0
violations per inspection
100.0%
of violations were serious
7.5×
Healthcare & Social Assistance industry-avg penalty
$0
in back wages recovered

How COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Healthcare & Social Assistance per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY carries 7.5× the penalties of a typical Healthcare & Social Assistance employer — a clear outlier in its sector.

Source U.S. Department of Labor — OSHA enforcement extracts As of 2026

What the Data Says About COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

The federal enforcement record for COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY in NEW YORK, NY includes 3 OSHA inspections and 3 violations, translating to 1.00 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 3 (100.0%) 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 $12,750 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $8,925 — a 30.0% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $2,975. Against the Healthcare & Social Assistance industry average of $1,197 per employer, this record runs above peers. The Wage and Hour Division added 1 case producing $0 in back wages owed to 0 affected workers.

Inspection activity spans from 2012-02-23 to 2026-01-30, a window of roughly 14 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
3
First Inspection
2012-02-23
Last Inspection
2026-01-30
Inspection Span
14 years
Violations per Inspection
1.0
Avg Penalty per Inspection
$2,975
Industry Avg per Inspection
$1,773

Violation Breakdown

3
Serious
100.0% of total
0
Willful
0.0% of total
0
Repeat
0.0% of total
0
Other-Than-Serious
0.0% 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
$12,750
Current Penalty Amount
$8,925
Penalty Reduction
30.0%

Penalties were reduced by $3,825 from the initial assessment of $12,750. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Combined Financial Impact (OSHA + WHD)
$8,925

Wage & Hour Findings

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

Industry Safety Context: Healthcare & Social Assistance

How COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY compares to the Healthcare & Social Assistance sector, which has 17,814 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Industry Avg
Inspections 3 0.7
Violations 3 1.1
Total Penalty $8,925 $1,197
Avg Penalty per Inspection $2,975 $1,773

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY's workplace safety record is mixed, with some compliance concerns. The employer has 3 violations across 3 inspections, including 3 serious violations. Compared to Healthcare & Social Assistance industry peers, this is above average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY have?
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY has 3 OSHA violations on record, including 3 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $8,925.
How many OSHA inspections has COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY had?
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY has had 3 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2012-02-23 and the most recent on 2026-01-30. This averages 1.0 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY?
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY has been assessed $8,925 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $12,750 (a 30.0% reduction). Additionally, $0 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY has 3 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 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY been cited for wage theft?
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, resulting in $0 in back wages owed to 0 affected employee. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY operate in?
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY operates in the Healthcare & Social Assistance sector (NAICS code 622110). This industry has 17,814 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 12,028 total OSHA inspections and $21.33M in cumulative penalties.
What are my rights if I work at COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY?
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employees at COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 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 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY?
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 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY owes me wages?
If you believe COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 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.
How does COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY's safety record compare to industry average?
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY's total OSHA penalty of $8,925 is above the Healthcare & Social Assistance industry average of $1,197 per employer (7.5x the average). The employer has 3 inspections compared to the industry average of 0.7 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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