HARDING UNIVERSITY

200 SOUTH BLAKENEY, SEARCY, AR 72149 · Educational Services

HARDING UNIVERSITY in SEARCY, AR has been the subject of 1 OSHA workplace inspections and 4 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $9,800. 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: Educational Services. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

1
OSHA Inspections
4
Violations Cited
$9,800
OSHA Penalties
$17,584
Back Wages Owed

Safety Assessment

HARDING UNIVERSITY has been inspected 1 times by OSHA over 1 year. These inspections resulted in 4 violations, averaging 4.0 violations per inspection. Of these, 2 were classified as serious — indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Compared to the Educational Services industry average of 3 inspections per employer, HARDING UNIVERSITY has been inspected fewer frequently. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $17,584 in back wages owed to 257 workers.

What the Data Says About HARDING UNIVERSITY

The federal enforcement record for HARDING UNIVERSITY in SEARCY, AR includes 1 OSHA inspection and 4 violations, translating to 4.00 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 2 (50.0%) 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 $14,000 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $9,800 — a 30.0% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $9,800. Against the Educational Services industry average of $2,944 per employer, this record runs above peers. The Wage and Hour Division added 2 cases producing $17,584 in back wages owed to 257 affected workers.

Inspection activity spans from 2011-01-04 to 2011-01-04, 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
1
First Inspection
2011-01-04
Last Inspection
2011-01-04
Inspection Span
1 year
Violations per Inspection
4.0
Avg Penalty per Inspection
$9,800
Industry Avg per Inspection
$1,162

Violation Breakdown

2
Serious
50.0% of total
0
Willful
0.0% of total
0
Repeat
0.0% of total
2
Other-Than-Serious
50.0% 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
$14,000
Current Penalty Amount
$9,800
Penalty Reduction
30.0%

Penalties were reduced by $4,200 from the initial assessment of $14,000. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Combined Financial Impact (OSHA + WHD)
$27,384

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
2
Back Wages Owed
$17,584
Employees Affected
257
WHD Violations
257
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$68
Avg Back Wages per Case
$8,792

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that HARDING UNIVERSITY owed $17,584 in back wages to 257 employees across 2 cases and 257 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 HARDING UNIVERSITY compares to the Educational Services sector, which has 3,116 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric HARDING UNIVERSITY Industry Avg
Inspections 1 2.5
Violations 4 5.9
Total Penalty $9,800 $2,944
Avg Penalty per Inspection $9,800 $1,162

Related Data from Other Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is HARDING UNIVERSITY safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, HARDING UNIVERSITY's workplace safety record is concerning, with multiple serious compliance issues. The employer has 4 violations across 1 inspections, including 2 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 HARDING UNIVERSITY have?
HARDING UNIVERSITY has 4 OSHA violations on record, including 2 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $9,800.
How many OSHA inspections has HARDING UNIVERSITY had?
HARDING UNIVERSITY has had 1 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2011-01-04 and the most recent on 2011-01-04. This averages 4.0 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for HARDING UNIVERSITY?
HARDING UNIVERSITY has been assessed $9,800 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $14,000 (a 30.0% reduction). Additionally, $17,584 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does HARDING UNIVERSITY have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. HARDING UNIVERSITY has 2 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 HARDING UNIVERSITY been cited for wage theft?
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 2 enforcement cases against HARDING UNIVERSITY, resulting in $17,584 in back wages owed to 257 affected employees. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does HARDING UNIVERSITY operate in?
HARDING UNIVERSITY operates in the Educational Services sector (NAICS code 611310). This industry has 3,116 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 7,891 total OSHA inspections and $9.17M in cumulative penalties.
What are my rights if I work at HARDING UNIVERSITY?
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employees at HARDING 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 HARDING 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 HARDING UNIVERSITY owes me wages?
If you believe HARDING 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 $17,584 in back wages owed by this employer across 2 cases.
How does HARDING UNIVERSITY's safety record compare to industry average?
HARDING UNIVERSITY's total OSHA penalty of $9,800 is above the Educational Services industry average of $2,944 per employer (3.3x the average). The employer has 1 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.5 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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