DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION

2300 STEELE STREET, DENVER, CO 80205 · Arts, Entertainment & Recreation

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 Wage and Hour Division (WHD) compliance actions on record, covering Fair Labor Standards Act enforcement including minimum wage and overtime violations. Industry sector: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

2
OSHA Inspections
12
Violations Cited
$20,000
OSHA Penalties
$0
Back Wages Owed

Safety Assessment

DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION has been inspected 2 times by OSHA over 1 year. These inspections resulted in 12 violations, averaging 6.0 violations per inspection. Of these, 7 were classified as serious — indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Compared to the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation industry average of 2 inspections per employer, DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION has been inspected more frequently. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $0 in back wages owed to 0 workers.

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 $4,556 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 2019-02-12 to 2019-04-05, a window of roughly 1 year. 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
2
First Inspection
2019-02-12
Last Inspection
2019-04-05
Inspection Span
1 year
Violations per Inspection
6.0
Avg Penalty per Inspection
$10,000
Industry Avg per Inspection
$2,649

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

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
$34,098
Current Penalty Amount
$20,000
Penalty Reduction
41.3%

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.

Combined Financial Impact (OSHA + WHD)
$20,000

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 2,208 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION Industry Avg
Inspections 2 1.7
Violations 12 4.7
Total Penalty $20,000 $4,556
Avg Penalty per Inspection $10,000 $2,649

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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 0 affected employee. 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 2,208 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 3,798 total OSHA inspections and $10.06M in cumulative penalties.
What are my rights if I work at DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION?
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employees at DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION 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 DENVER ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION?
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 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 $4,556 per employer (4.4x the average). The employer has 2 inspections compared to the industry average of 1.7 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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