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Employers › WA

Public Administration · Seattle, WA

King County Metro Transit

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), King County Metro Transit ranks #64,975 of 99,447 penalized U.S. employers by total current penalty, with a relatively clean safety record: 2 violations across 2 inspections.

Lower half by penalty50% serious
$3,500
OSHA penalties
2
Violations cited
2
OSHA inspections
#64,975
of 99,447 penalized employers

King County Metro Transit in Seattle, WA has been the subject of 2 OSHA workplace inspections and 2 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $3,500. Separately, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found $3.27M in back wages owed to 2,461 affected workers. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected King County Metro Transit 2 times over 4 years, roughly once every couple of years. These inspections resulted in 2 violations, averaging 1.0 per inspection. According to OSHA enforcement records, its total current penalty ranks #64,975 of 99,447 penalized U.S. employers (the lower half of penalized employers nationally). Of these, 1 were classified as serious - indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Against the Public Administration industry average of 3 inspections per employer, this runs moderately below peers (0.6x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $3.27M in back wages owed to 2,461 affected workers. For comparison, Hampden County Sheriff's Department in Ludlow, MA is another public administration employer with 3 OSHA inspections on record and $0 in current penalties.

1.0
violations per inspection
50.0%
of violations were serious
#64,975
of 99,447 penalized employers
$3.27M
in back wages recovered

Compliance score

F 38/100
  • C OSHA safety compliance: 2 violations across 2 OSHA inspections (1.0 per inspection), vs. national p10 0.0 (best) / p90 5.5 (worst) among 145,626 inspected employers.
  • F Wage & hour compliance: $3.3M in back wages owed across 2 WHD cases ($1.6M per case), vs. national p10 $2K (best) / p90 $58K (worst) among 91,622 employers with a WHD case on file.
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How King County Metro Transit compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Public Administration per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows King County Metro Transit runs moderately above peers (1.3x 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

$3,500 Top 35% most affordable more affordable than 65% of 99,447 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 43,959 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). This entry sits in this band. $5,000–$10,000: 20,304 U.S. employers with a penalty (20%). Above this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,027 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Above this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,546 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). Above this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 4,175 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Above this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,877 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Above this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,036 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Above this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1,493 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Above this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1,095 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 785 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 5,150 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

Does more inspection scrutiny mean more findings?

Each dot is one of 21 Public Administration employers with an OSHA inspection on record, placed by inspections and violations cited. The highlighted dot is King County Metro Transit.

Frequently inspected, many findingsRarely inspected, many findingsFrequently inspected, clean recordBelow median on both1.92.022.02.002.65.37.910.5OSHA inspectionsViolations citedNORTH BERGEN HOUSING…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 1ALVA-TECH, INC., OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 5CA DEPT OF FORESTRY …, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 1CA CORRECTION - CORC…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 5CITY OF NOGALES, CIT…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 1CORCORAN STATE PRISON, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 3COCKE COUNTY - FIRE …, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 8MONROE TOWNSHIP POLI…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 0NYSED SENATOR JOHN H…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 1VILLAGE OF ROBBINS -…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 0C&C - HFD PALOLO FIR…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 1U.S. FOREST SERVICE,…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 7ALBANY CITY, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 5CAMPBELL COUNTY WAST…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 1VAILS GATE FD STATIO…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 1MI DOC GUS HARRISON …, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 0U.S. DEPT OF NAVY, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 5LOS ANGELES FIRE DEP…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 0MIDDLETOWN TN, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 5SPRING VALLEY VILL H…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 10King County Metro Tr…, OSHA inspections: 2 · Violations cited: 2
King County Metro Transit has 2 OSHA inspections on record and 2 violations cited. The crosshair marks the median among these Public Administration peers. Across this sector's tracked employers, more inspections is moderately associated with more violations found -- not a coincidence, but not a guarantee either.

King County Metro Transit in the Public Administration enforcement ledger

Public Administration sector: King County Metro Transit is the #1,048 heaviest OSHA penalty carrier of 1,870 employers with nonzero fines ($3,500). On wage-and-hour enforcement alone, King County Metro Transit ranks #4 among 501 Public Administration employers with WHD recoveries ($3.27M).

Combined federal exposure here: $3,500 OSHA penalties plus $3.27M WHD back wages (99.9% of the combined total is wage recovery).

How King County Metro Transit Compares

King County Metro Transit's 1.00 violations per inspection compares to the Public Administration sector average of 6.4 violations per employer.

Against the Public Administration industry average of $2,606 per employer, this employer's current OSHA penalty runs moderately above peers (1.3x the sector average).

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

2

First Inspection

2010-03-09

Last Inspection

2014-05-30

Inspection Span

4 yrs

Violations / Inspection

1.0

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$1,750

Industry Avg / Inspection

$827

What this shows 2 inspections over 4 years, averaging 1.0 violations per visit. That's $1,750 per inspection vs. the Public Administration average of $827.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

1

Serious

50.0% of total

0

Willful

0.0% of total

0

Repeat

0.0% of total

1

Other-Than-Serious

50.0% 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

$3,500

Current Penalty Amount

$3,500

Penalty Reduction

None

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$3.27M

What this shows No reduction on record. The current penalty matches the original OSHA assessment.

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
2
Back Wages Owed
$3.27M
Employees Affected
2,461
WHD Violations
2,463
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$1,329
Avg Back Wages per CaseFar above average
$1.64M

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that King County Metro Transit owed $3.27M in back wages to 2,461 employees across 2 cases and 2,463 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: Public Administration

How King County Metro Transit compares to the Public Administration sector, which has 9,693 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric King County Metro Transit Industry Avg
Inspections 2 3.2
Violations 2 6.4
Total Penalty $3,500 $2,606
Avg Penalty per Inspection $1,750 $827
View all 9,693 employers in Public Administration →

Nationwide Public Administration peers with similar penalties or inspection counts

Two OSHA-record peer sets for King County Metro Transit, both outside WA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment.

Similar current OSHA penalty

Nearest same-sector employers by current assessed penalty ($3,500 here).

Town of Friendship $3,500 ME Mannington Fire Company (Building) $3,500 NJ City of Page Central Garage $3,500 AZ DCR $3,500 PR

Similar OSHA inspection count

Same-sector employers with a comparable inspection history outside this state (2 inspections here).

North Bergen Housing Authority 2 insp. North Bergen, NJ Alva-Tech, INC. 2 insp. Burlington, NJ CA Dept of Forestry and Fire Protection 2 insp. El Cajon, CA CA Correction - Corcoran 2 insp. Corcoran, CA

Nearby & Similar Employers in Public Administration

Showing 5 of 9692 other employers tracked in this sector.

PR Police
San Juan, PR
0 inspections $0
Zenefits
San Francisco, CA
0 inspections $0
Fannin County Jail/Detention Center
Bonham, TX
0 inspections $0
Hampden County Sheriff's Department
Ludlow, MA
3 inspections $0
PR Police - Federal Task Force
San Juan, PR
0 inspections $0

Compare King County Metro Transit vs PR Police side-by-side →

What to do with this record

Use King County Metro Transit's enforcement history as one data point, not the whole picture.

  • A single employer's record can look unusual in isolation. Compare King County Metro Transit against PR Police, a similarly-sized employer in the same sector, before drawing conclusions. Compare side-by-side
  • See whether King County Metro Transit's inspection and penalty record is typical for Public Administration or an outlier against the sector's own average. View the Public Administration sector
  • King County Metro Transit also carries $3.27M in Wage and Hour Division back-wages, a separate enforcement track from OSHA safety violations. How wage-theft enforcement works

Figures reflect closed OSHA and WHD federal enforcement actions on record (2010–2026); not every workplace issue results in an inspection or investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is King County Metro Transit safe to work at? ▼
Based on OSHA records, King County Metro Transit's workplace safety record is relatively clean, with fewer violations than typical. The employer has 2 violations across 2 inspections, including 1 serious violations. Compared to Public Administration industry peers, this is above average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does King County Metro Transit have? ▼
King County Metro Transit has 2 OSHA violations on record, including 1 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $3,500.
How many OSHA inspections has King County Metro Transit had? ▼
King County Metro Transit has had 2 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2010-03-09 and the most recent on 2014-05-30. This averages 1.0 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for King County Metro Transit? ▼
King County Metro Transit has been assessed $3,500 in current OSHA penalties. Additionally, $3.27M in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does King County Metro Transit have any serious or willful violations? ▼
Yes. King County Metro Transit has 1 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 King County Metro Transit been cited for wage theft? ▼
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 2 enforcement cases against King County Metro Transit, resulting in $3.27M in back wages owed to 2,461 affected workers. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does King County Metro Transit operate in? ▼
King County Metro Transit operates in the Public Administration sector (NAICS code 921110). This industry has 9,693 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 30,559 total OSHA inspections and $25.26M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if King County Metro Transit owes me wages? ▼
If you believe King County Metro Transit 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 $3.27M in back wages owed by this employer across 2 cases.
Where does King County Metro Transit rank nationally on OSHA penalties? ▼
Among the 99,447 U.S. employers with a nonzero current OSHA penalty in PlainWorker's corpus, King County Metro Transit ranks #64,975 (the lower half of penalized employers nationally). The ordinal is a live COUNT of employers with a lower total_current_penalty; see the methodology page for the exact derivation.
How does King County Metro Transit's safety record compare to industry average? ▼
King County Metro Transit's total OSHA penalty of $3,500 is above the Public Administration industry average of $2,606 per employer (1.3x the average). The employer has 2 inspections compared to the industry average of 3.2 per employer. For a direct comparison, Hampden County Sheriff's Department in Ludlow, MA is a similar public administration employer with $0 in current penalties.
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.