Educational Services · Portland, ME

Portland Public Schools

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), Portland Public Schools has a mixed safety record: 5 violations across 2 inspections. See the full breakdown below.

Lower half by penalty60% serious
$1,500
OSHA penalties
5
Violations cited
2
OSHA inspections
$7,801
Back wages owed

Portland Public Schools in Portland, ME has been the subject of 2 OSHA workplace inspections and 5 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $1,500. The employer also has 1 Wage and Hour Division (WHD) case on record, covering Fair Labor Standards Act enforcement. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected Portland Public Schools 2 times across a longer 6-year span, an infrequent cadence. These inspections resulted in 5 violations, averaging 2.5 per inspection, above what's typical for a single visit. Its total OSHA penalty ranks in the lower half of penalized employers nationally. Of these, 3 were classified as serious - indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Against the Educational Services industry average of 3 inspections per employer, this runs moderately below peers (0.8x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $7,801 in back wages owed to 7 affected workers. For comparison, Connecticut Technical Education and Career System in Waterbury, CT is another educational services employer with 17 OSHA inspections on record and $9,310 in current penalties.

2.5
violations per inspection
60.0%
of violations were serious
18%
of penalized employers rank lower
$7,801
in back wages recovered

How Portland Public Schools compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Educational Services per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows Portland Public Schools runs moderately below peers (0.5x 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

$1,500 Top 18% most affordable more affordable than 82% of 100,495 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 44,435 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). This entry sits in this band. $5,000–$10,000: 20,628 U.S. employers with a penalty (21%). Above this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,165 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Above this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,629 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). Above this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 4,205 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Above this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,885 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Above this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,052 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Above this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1,483 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1,120 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 792 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 5,101 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

What the Data Says About Portland Public Schools

The federal enforcement record for Portland Public Schools in Portland, ME includes 2 OSHA inspections and 5 violations, translating to 2.50 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 $3,000 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $1,500 - a 50.0% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $750. Against the Educational Services industry average of $3,013 per employer, this record runs moderately below peers (0.5x the sector average). The Wage and Hour Division added 1 case producing $7,801 in back wages owed to 7 affected workers.

Inspection activity spans from 2019-12-18 to 2025-12-17, a window of roughly 6 years.

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

2

First Inspection

2019-12-18

Last Inspection

2025-12-17

Inspection Span

6 yrs

Violations / Inspection

2.5

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$750

Industry Avg / Inspection

$1,198

What this shows 2 inspections over 6 years, averaging 2.5 violations per visit. That's $750 per inspection vs. the Educational Services average of $1,198.

Enforcement detail

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

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

$3,000

Current Penalty Amount

$1,500

Penalty Reduction

50.0%

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$9,301

What this shows Penalties were reduced by $1,500 from the initial assessment of $3,000. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
1
Back Wages Owed
$7,801
Employees Affected
7
WHD Violations
9
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$1,114
Avg Back Wages per Case
$7,801

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that Portland Public Schools owed $7,801 in back wages to 7 employees across 1 case and 9 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 Portland Public Schools compares to the Educational Services sector, which has 3,199 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric Portland Public Schools Industry Avg
Inspections 2 2.5
Violations 5 5.7
Total Penalty $1,500 $3,013
Avg Penalty per Inspection $750 $1,198

Nearby & Similar Employers in Educational Services

Compare Portland Public Schools vs Empire Education Group side-by-side →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portland Public Schools safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, Portland Public Schools's workplace safety record is mixed, with some compliance concerns. The employer has 5 violations across 2 inspections, including 3 serious violations. Compared to Educational Services industry peers, this is below average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does Portland Public Schools have?
Portland Public Schools has 5 OSHA violations on record, including 3 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $1,500.
How many OSHA inspections has Portland Public Schools had?
Portland Public Schools has had 2 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2019-12-18 and the most recent on 2025-12-17. This averages 2.5 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for Portland Public Schools?
Portland Public Schools has been assessed $1,500 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $3,000 (a 50.0% reduction). Additionally, $7,801 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does Portland Public Schools have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. Portland Public Schools 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 Portland Public Schools been cited for wage theft?
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against Portland Public Schools, resulting in $7,801 in back wages owed to 7 affected workers. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does Portland Public Schools operate in?
Portland Public Schools operates in the Educational Services sector (NAICS code 611110). This industry has 3,199 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 8,044 total OSHA inspections and $9.64M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if Portland Public Schools owes me wages?
If you believe Portland Public Schools 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 $7,801 in back wages owed by this employer across 1 case.
How does Portland Public Schools's safety record compare to industry average?
Portland Public Schools's total OSHA penalty of $1,500 is below the Educational Services industry average of $3,013 per employer. The employer has 2 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.5 per employer. For a direct comparison, Connecticut Technical Education and Career System in Waterbury, CT is a similar educational services employer with $9,310 in current penalties.

Explore PlainWorker

What to check next

Portland Public Schools's record is one establishment in a larger pattern. Use it as a research checklist, not a verdict on the employer overall.

These figures are the federal enforcement record on file and reflect past inspections, not a statement about current workplace conditions. See the disclaimer for how to read them.

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.