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Construction · Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), University of South Carolina has a relatively clean safety record: 1 violations across 9 inspections. See the full breakdown below.

Lower half by penalty100% serious
$490
OSHA penalties
1
Violations cited
9
OSHA inspections
$2,585
Back wages owed

University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC has been the subject of 9 OSHA workplace inspections and 1 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $490. Federal wage-and-hour enforcement records also show 3 WHD violations against this employer under the Fair Labor Standards Act. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected University of South Carolina 9 times over 4 years - more than twice a year on average. These inspections resulted in just 1 violation, averaging 0.1 per inspection - fewer than typical. Its total OSHA penalty ranks in 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 Construction industry average of 2 inspections per employer, this runs well above peers (4.5x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $2,585 in back wages owed to 1 affected worker. For comparison, Copper Works, INC. in Charlotte, NC is another construction employer with 2 OSHA inspections on record and $3,075 in current penalties.

0.1
violations per inspection
100.0%
of violations were serious
6%
of penalized employers rank lower
$2,585
in back wages recovered

How University of South Carolina compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Construction per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows University of South Carolina runs well below peers (0.07x 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

$490 Top 6% most affordable more affordable than 94% 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 University of South Carolina

The federal enforcement record for University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC includes 9 OSHA inspections and 1 violation, translating to 0.11 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 1 (100.0%) 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 $490 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $490 - no reduction from the original assessment. Average penalty per inspection works out to $54. Against the Construction industry average of $6,751 per employer, this record runs well below peers (0.07x the sector average). The Wage and Hour Division added 1 case producing $2,585 in back wages owed to 1 affected worker.

Inspection activity spans from 2010-03-23 to 2014-06-17, a window of roughly 4 years.

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

9

First Inspection

2010-03-23

Last Inspection

2014-06-17

Inspection Span

4 yrs

Violations / Inspection

0.1

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$54

Industry Avg / Inspection

$3,361

What this shows 9 inspections over 4 years, averaging 0.1 violations per visit. That's $54 per inspection vs. the Construction average of $3,361.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

1

Serious

100.0% of total

0

Willful

0.0% of total

0

Repeat

0.0% of total

0

Other-Than-Serious

0.0% 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

$490

Current Penalty Amount

$490

Penalty Reduction

None

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$3,075

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

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
1
Back Wages Owed
$2,585
Employees Affected
1
WHD Violations
3
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$2,585
Avg Back Wages per Case
$2,585

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that University of South Carolina owed $2,585 in back wages to 1 employee across 1 case and 3 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: Construction

How University of South Carolina compares to the Construction sector, which has 61,413 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric University of South Carolina Industry Avg
Inspections 9 2.0
Violations 1 3.3
Total Penalty $490 $6,751
Avg Penalty per Inspection $54 $3,361
View all 61,413 employers in Construction →

Nearby & Similar Employers in Construction

Gilpin Roofing and Siding, INC.
Virginia Beach, VA
2 inspections $3,075
Southern Brick LLC
Richmond, VA
2 inspections $3,075
Lakav Contractors LLC
Ocean City, MD
2 inspections $3,075
Copper Works, INC.
Charlotte, NC
2 inspections $3,075
M S Construction
Tacoma, WA
3 inspections $3,075

Compare University of South Carolina vs Gilpin Roofing and Siding, INC. side-by-side →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is University of South Carolina safe to work at? ▼
Based on OSHA records, University of South Carolina's workplace safety record is relatively clean, with fewer violations than typical. The employer has 1 violations across 9 inspections, including 1 serious violations. Compared to Construction industry peers, this is below average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does University of South Carolina have? ▼
University of South Carolina has 1 OSHA violations on record, including 1 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $490.
How many OSHA inspections has University of South Carolina had? ▼
University of South Carolina has had 9 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2010-03-23 and the most recent on 2014-06-17. This averages 0.1 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for University of South Carolina? ▼
University of South Carolina has been assessed $490 in current OSHA penalties. Additionally, $2,585 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does University of South Carolina have any serious or willful violations? ▼
Yes. University of South Carolina 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 University of South Carolina been cited for wage theft? ▼
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against University of South Carolina, resulting in $2,585 in back wages owed to 1 affected worker. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does University of South Carolina operate in? ▼
University of South Carolina operates in the Construction sector (NAICS code 236220). This industry has 61,413 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 123,350 total OSHA inspections and $414.57M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if University of South Carolina owes me wages? ▼
If you believe University of South Carolina 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 $2,585 in back wages owed by this employer across 1 case.
How does University of South Carolina's safety record compare to industry average? ▼
University of South Carolina's total OSHA penalty of $490 is below the Construction industry average of $6,751 per employer. The employer has 9 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.0 per employer. For a direct comparison, Copper Works, INC. in Charlotte, NC is a similar construction employer with $3,075 in current penalties.

Explore PlainWorker

Construction Industry

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Employers in SC

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What to check next

University of South Carolina'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 9 inspections on record. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.