Utilities · DES MOINES, IA
DES MOINES WATER WORKS
OSHA records show a concerning safety record: 13 violations across 2 inspections — above the Utilities industry average for penalties.
- 2
- OSHA inspections
- 13
- Violations cited
- $79,257
- OSHA penalties
DES MOINES WATER WORKS in DES MOINES, IA has been the subject of 2 OSHA workplace inspections and 13 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $79,257. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.
The record in one line
DES MOINES WATER WORKS has been inspected 2 times by OSHA over 1 year. These inspections resulted in 13 violations, averaging 6.5 violations per inspection. Of these, 12 were classified as serious — indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Compared to the Utilities industry average of 3 inspections per employer, DES MOINES WATER WORKS has been inspected fewer frequently.
- 6.5
- violations per inspection
- 92.3%
- of violations were serious
- 13.8×
- Utilities industry-avg penalty
How DES MOINES WATER WORKS compares on OSHA penalties
Total current penalty vs the Utilities per-employer average
- DES MOINES WATER WORKS
DES MOINES WATER WORKS
$79,257 in penalties
- Utilities avg $5,754
Utilities industry average (per employer)
$5,754 in penalties
What this shows DES MOINES WATER WORKS carries 13.8× the penalties of a typical Utilities employer — a clear outlier in its sector.
What the Data Says About DES MOINES WATER WORKS
The federal enforcement record for DES MOINES WATER WORKS in DES MOINES, IA includes 2 OSHA inspections and 13 violations, translating to 6.50 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 12 (92.3%) 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 $221,376 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $79,257 — a 64.2% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $39,629. Against the Utilities industry average of $5,754 per employer, this record runs above peers.
Inspection activity spans from 2023-01-04 to 2024-06-26, 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
Violation Breakdown
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
Penalties were reduced by $142,119 from the initial assessment of $221,376. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.
Industry Safety Context: Utilities
How DES MOINES WATER WORKS compares to the Utilities sector, which has 2,996 employers tracked by PlainWorker.
| Metric | DES MOINES WATER WORKS | Industry Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Inspections | 2 | 2.6 |
| Violations | 13 | 6.2 |
| Total Penalty | $79,257 | $5,754 |
| Avg Penalty per Inspection | $39,629 | $2,204 |
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Related Data Sources
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.