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Arts, Entertainment & Recreation · Denver, CO

Denver Zoological Foundation

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), Denver Zoological Foundation has a concerning safety record: 12 violations across 2 inspections. See the full breakdown below.

Top 25% by penalty58% serious
$20,000
OSHA penalties
12
Violations cited
2
OSHA inspections
$0
Back wages owed

Denver Zoological Foundation in Denver, CO has been the subject of 2 OSHA workplace inspections and 12 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $20,000. The employer also has 1 Wage and Hour Division (WHD) case on record, covering Fair Labor Standards Act enforcement. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected Denver Zoological Foundation 2 times over 1 year - more than twice a year on average. These inspections resulted in 12 violations, averaging 6.0 per inspection - a notably high rate. Its total OSHA penalty ranks in the top quarter of penalized employers nationally. Of these, 7 were classified as serious - indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Against the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation industry average of 2 inspections per employer, this sits roughly in line with peers (1.1x 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, Torresen Marine, INC. in Muskegon, MI is another arts, entertainment & recreation employer with 3 OSHA inspections on record and $19,800 in current penalties.

6.0
violations per inspection
58.3%
of violations were serious
82%
of penalized employers rank lower
$0
in back wages recovered

How Denver Zoological Foundation compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows Denver Zoological Foundation runs well above peers (4.5x 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

$20,000 Bottom 18% least affordable more affordable than 18% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $25,000–$30,000: 2,885 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Above this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,052 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Above this entry. $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 Denver Zoological Foundation

The federal enforcement record for Denver Zoological Foundation in Denver, CO includes 2 OSHA inspections and 12 violations, translating to 6.00 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 7 (58.3%) 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 $34,098 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $20,000 - a 41.3% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $10,000. Against the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation industry average of $4,456 per employer, this record runs well above peers (4.5x the sector average). The Wage and Hour Division added 1 case producing $0 in back wages owed to an undisclosed number of workers.

Inspection activity spans from 2019-02-12 to 2019-04-05, a window of roughly 1 year.

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

2

First Inspection

2019-02-12

Last Inspection

2019-04-05

Inspection Span

1 yr

Violations / Inspection

6.0

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$10,000

Industry Avg / Inspection

$2,543

What this shows 2 inspections over 1 year, averaging 6.0 violations per visit. That's $10,000 per inspection vs. the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation average of $2,543.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

7

Serious

58.3% of total

0

Willful

0.0% of total

0

Repeat

0.0% of total

5

Other-Than-Serious

41.7% 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

$34,098

Current Penalty Amount

$20,000

Penalty Reduction

41.3%

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$20,000

What this shows Penalties were reduced by $14,098 from the initial assessment of $34,098. 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
0

Industry Safety Context: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation

How Denver Zoological Foundation compares to the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation sector, which has 2,241 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric Denver Zoological Foundation Industry Avg
Inspections 2 1.8
Violations 12 5.0
Total Penalty $20,000 $4,456
Avg Penalty per Inspection $10,000 $2,543
View all 2,241 employers in Arts, Entertainment & Recreation →

Nearby & Similar Employers in Arts, Entertainment & Recreation

The Chicago Zoological Society DBA Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield, IL
3 inspections $20,000
Cedar Fair LP
Allentown, PA
2 inspections $20,000
Waldorf=Astoria Management LLC
LA Quinta, CA
2 inspections $20,170
FTP Golf Management LLC
Madera, CA
2 inspections $19,810
Torresen Marine, INC.
Muskegon, MI
3 inspections $19,800

Compare Denver Zoological Foundation vs The Chicago Zoological Society DBA Brookfield Zoo side-by-side →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Denver Zoological Foundation safe to work at? ▼
Based on OSHA records, Denver Zoological Foundation's workplace safety record is concerning, with multiple serious compliance issues. The employer has 12 violations across 2 inspections, including 7 serious violations. Compared to Arts, Entertainment & Recreation industry peers, this is above average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does Denver Zoological Foundation have? ▼
Denver Zoological Foundation has 12 OSHA violations on record, including 7 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $20,000.
How many OSHA inspections has Denver Zoological Foundation had? ▼
Denver Zoological Foundation has had 2 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2019-02-12 and the most recent on 2019-04-05. This averages 6.0 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for Denver Zoological Foundation? ▼
Denver Zoological Foundation has been assessed $20,000 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $34,098 (a 41.3% reduction). Additionally, $0 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does Denver Zoological Foundation have any serious or willful violations? ▼
Yes. Denver Zoological Foundation has 7 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 Denver Zoological Foundation been cited for wage theft? ▼
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against Denver Zoological Foundation, 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 Denver Zoological Foundation operate in? ▼
Denver Zoological Foundation operates in the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation sector (NAICS code 712130). This industry has 2,241 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 3,927 total OSHA inspections and $9.99M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if Denver Zoological Foundation owes me wages? ▼
If you believe Denver Zoological Foundation 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 Denver Zoological Foundation's safety record compare to industry average? ▼
Denver Zoological Foundation's total OSHA penalty of $20,000 is above the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation industry average of $4,456 per employer (4.5x the average). The employer has 2 inspections compared to the industry average of 1.8 per employer. For a direct comparison, Torresen Marine, INC. in Muskegon, MI is a similar arts, entertainment & recreation employer with $19,800 in current penalties.

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Arts, Entertainment & Recreation Industry

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What to check next

Denver Zoological Foundation'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.