Manufacturing · WATERLOO, IA

JOHN DEERE

OSHA records show a mixed safety record: 5 violations across 4 inspections — below the Manufacturing industry average for penalties.

4
OSHA inspections
5
Violations cited
$10,892
OSHA penalties
$0
Back wages owed

JOHN DEERE in WATERLOO, IA has been the subject of 4 OSHA workplace inspections and 5 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $10,892. 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. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

JOHN DEERE has been inspected 4 times by OSHA over 6 years. These inspections resulted in 5 violations, averaging 1.3 violations per inspection. Of these, 3 were classified as serious — indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Compared to the Manufacturing industry average of 3 inspections per employer, JOHN DEERE has been inspected more frequently. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $0 in back wages owed to 0 workers.

1.3
violations per inspection
60.0%
of violations were serious
0.79×
Manufacturing industry-avg penalty
$0
in back wages recovered

How JOHN DEERE compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Manufacturing per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows JOHN DEERE sits below the Manufacturing per-employer average, a comparatively lighter enforcement footprint than its peers.

Source U.S. Department of Labor — OSHA enforcement extracts As of 2026

What the Data Says About JOHN DEERE

The federal enforcement record for JOHN DEERE in WATERLOO, IA includes 4 OSHA inspections and 5 violations, translating to 1.25 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 3 (60.0%) 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 $11,704 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $10,892 — a 6.9% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $2,723. Against the Manufacturing industry average of $13,853 per employer, this record runs below peers. The Wage and Hour Division added 1 case producing $0 in back wages owed to 0 affected workers.

Inspection activity spans from 2015-01-12 to 2020-07-21, a window of roughly 6 years. 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
4
First Inspection
2015-01-12
Last Inspection
2020-07-21
Inspection Span
6 years
Violations per Inspection
1.3
Avg Penalty per Inspection
$2,723
Industry Avg per Inspection
$5,418

Violation Breakdown

3
Serious
60.0% of total
0
Willful
0.0% of total
0
Repeat
0.0% of total
2
Other-Than-Serious
40.0% 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
$11,704
Current Penalty Amount
$10,892
Penalty Reduction
6.9%

Penalties were reduced by $812 from the initial assessment of $11,704. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Combined Financial Impact (OSHA + WHD)
$10,892

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
1
Back Wages Owed
$0
Employees Affected
0
WHD Violations
0

Industry Safety Context: Manufacturing

How JOHN DEERE compares to the Manufacturing sector, which has 23,042 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric JOHN DEERE Industry Avg
Inspections 4 2.6
Violations 5 8.2
Total Penalty $10,892 $13,853
Avg Penalty per Inspection $2,723 $5,418

Explore related data

Workplace Safety Guides

Nearby & Similar Employers in Manufacturing

Compare JOHN DEERE vs DAEHAN SOLUTION NEVADA, LLC. side-by-side →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is JOHN DEERE safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, JOHN DEERE's workplace safety record is mixed, with some compliance concerns. The employer has 5 violations across 4 inspections, including 3 serious violations. Compared to Manufacturing industry peers, this is below average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does JOHN DEERE have?
JOHN DEERE has 5 OSHA violations on record, including 3 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $10,892.
How many OSHA inspections has JOHN DEERE had?
JOHN DEERE has had 4 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2015-01-12 and the most recent on 2020-07-21. This averages 1.3 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for JOHN DEERE?
JOHN DEERE has been assessed $10,892 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $11,704 (a 6.9% reduction). Additionally, $0 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does JOHN DEERE have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. JOHN DEERE has 3 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 JOHN DEERE been cited for wage theft?
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against JOHN DEERE, 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 JOHN DEERE operate in?
JOHN DEERE operates in the Manufacturing sector (NAICS code 333111). This industry has 23,042 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 58,916 total OSHA inspections and $319.21M in cumulative penalties.
What are my rights if I work at JOHN DEERE?
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employees at JOHN DEERE 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 JOHN DEERE?
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 JOHN DEERE owes me wages?
If you believe JOHN DEERE 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 JOHN DEERE's safety record compare to industry average?
JOHN DEERE's total OSHA penalty of $10,892 is below the Manufacturing industry average of $13,853 per employer. The employer has 4 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.6 per employer.

Explore PlainWorker

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 →