PlainWorker
Employers › NY

Educational Services · Ithaca, NY

Cornell University

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), Cornell University has a mixed safety record: 4 violations across 2 inspections. See the full breakdown below.

Top 10% by penalty100% serious
$32,667
OSHA penalties
4
Violations cited
2
OSHA inspections
$193,591
Back wages owed

Cornell University in Ithaca, NY has been the subject of 2 OSHA workplace inspections and 4 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $32,667. Separately, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found $193,591 in back wages owed to 1,460 affected workers. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected Cornell University 2 times over 1 year - more than twice a year on average. These inspections resulted in 4 violations, averaging 2.0 per inspection, above what's typical for a single visit. Its total OSHA penalty ranks in the top 10% of penalized employers nationally. Of these, 4 were classified as serious - indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Against the Educational Services industry average of 3 inspections per employer, this runs moderately below peers (0.8x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $193,591 in back wages owed to 1,460 affected workers. For comparison, Uniondale High School in Uniondale, NY is another educational services employer with 0 OSHA inspections on record and $0 in current penalties.

2.0
violations per inspection
100.0%
of violations were serious
91%
of penalized employers rank lower
$193,591
in back wages recovered

How Cornell University compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Educational Services per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows Cornell University runs far above peers (10.8x 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

$32,667 Bottom 9% least affordable more affordable than 9% of 100,495 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 44,435 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 20,628 U.S. employers with a penalty (21%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,165 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,629 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 4,205 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,885 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,052 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). This entry sits in this band. $35,000–$40,000: 1,483 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1,120 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 792 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 5,101 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

What the Data Says About Cornell University

The federal enforcement record for Cornell University in Ithaca, NY includes 2 OSHA inspections and 4 violations, translating to 2.00 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 4 (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 $43,554 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $32,667 - a 25.0% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $16,334. Against the Educational Services industry average of $3,013 per employer, this record runs far above peers (10.8x the sector average). The Wage and Hour Division added 2 cases producing $193,591 in back wages owed to 1,460 affected workers.

Inspection activity spans from 2023-10-19 to 2024-05-02, a window of roughly 1 year.

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

2

First Inspection

2023-10-19

Last Inspection

2024-05-02

Inspection Span

1 yr

Violations / Inspection

2.0

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$16,334

Industry Avg / Inspection

$1,198

What this shows 2 inspections over 1 year, averaging 2.0 violations per visit. That's $16,334 per inspection vs. the Educational Services average of $1,198.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

4

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

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

$43,554

Current Penalty Amount

$32,667

Penalty Reduction

25.0%

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$226,258

What this shows Penalties were reduced by $10,887 from the initial assessment of $43,554. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
2
Back Wages Owed
$193,591
Employees Affected
1,460
WHD Violations
1,462
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$133
Avg Back Wages per Case
$96,796

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that Cornell University owed $193,591 in back wages to 1,460 employees across 2 cases and 1,462 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: Educational Services

How Cornell University compares to the Educational Services sector, which has 3,199 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric Cornell University Industry Avg
Inspections 2 2.5
Violations 4 5.7
Total Penalty $32,667 $3,013
Avg Penalty per Inspection $16,334 $1,198
View all 3,199 employers in Educational Services →

Nearby & Similar Employers in Educational Services

Gryphon Group Security Solutions
Maxton, NC
0 inspections $0
Uniondale High School
Uniondale, NY
0 inspections $0
Management & Training Corporation
Centerville, UT
0 inspections $0
CC's Cosmetology College
Tulsa, OK
0 inspections $0
CNI Aviation, LLC
Oklahoma City, OK
0 inspections $0

Compare Cornell University vs Gryphon Group Security Solutions side-by-side →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cornell University safe to work at? ▼
Based on OSHA records, Cornell University's workplace safety record is mixed, with some compliance concerns. The employer has 4 violations across 2 inspections, including 4 serious violations. Compared to Educational Services industry peers, this is above average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does Cornell University have? ▼
Cornell University has 4 OSHA violations on record, including 4 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $32,667.
How many OSHA inspections has Cornell University had? ▼
Cornell University has had 2 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2023-10-19 and the most recent on 2024-05-02. This averages 2.0 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for Cornell University? ▼
Cornell University has been assessed $32,667 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $43,554 (a 25.0% reduction). Additionally, $193,591 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does Cornell University have any serious or willful violations? ▼
Yes. Cornell University has 4 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 Cornell University been cited for wage theft? ▼
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 2 enforcement cases against Cornell University, resulting in $193,591 in back wages owed to 1,460 affected workers. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does Cornell University operate in? ▼
Cornell University operates in the Educational Services sector (NAICS code 611310). This industry has 3,199 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 8,044 total OSHA inspections and $9.64M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if Cornell University owes me wages? ▼
If you believe Cornell 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 $193,591 in back wages owed by this employer across 2 cases.
How does Cornell University's safety record compare to industry average? ▼
Cornell University's total OSHA penalty of $32,667 is above the Educational Services industry average of $3,013 per employer (10.8x the average). The employer has 2 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.5 per employer. For a direct comparison, Uniondale High School in Uniondale, NY is a similar educational services employer with $0 in current penalties.

Explore PlainWorker

Educational Services Industry

All 3,199 employers in this sector
Employers in NY

All inspected employers in this state
Safety Rankings

Most penalized, repeat violators & more

What to check next

Cornell University's record is one establishment in a larger pattern. Use it as a research checklist, not a verdict on the employer overall.

These figures are the federal enforcement record on file and reflect past inspections, not a statement about current workplace conditions. See the disclaimer for how to read them.

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