Transportation & Warehousing · Chicago, IL

U.S. Postal Service

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), U.S. Postal Service ranks #7,384 of 99,447 penalized U.S. employers by total current penalty, with a mixed safety record: 22 violations across 18 inspections.

Top 10% by penalty50% serious
$38,601
OSHA penalties
22
Violations cited
18
OSHA inspections
#7,384
of 99,447 penalized employers

U.S. Postal Service in Chicago, IL has been the subject of 18 OSHA workplace inspections and 22 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $38,601. Separately, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found $0 in back wages owed to an undisclosed number of 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 U.S. Postal Service 18 times over 13 years, roughly annually. These inspections resulted in 22 violations, averaging 1.2 per inspection. According to OSHA enforcement records, its total current penalty ranks #7,384 of 99,447 penalized U.S. employers (the top 10% of penalized employers nationally). Of these, 11 were classified as serious - indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Against the Transportation & Warehousing industry average of 2 inspections per employer, this runs far above peers (9.7x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $0 in back wages owed to an undisclosed number of workers. For comparison, Diamond T Mail Service, Inc in Roswell, NM is another transportation & warehousing employer with 0 OSHA inspections on record and $0 in current penalties.

1.2
violations per inspection
50.0%
of violations were serious
#7,384
of 99,447 penalized employers
$0
in back wages recovered

Compliance score

B 82/100
  • C OSHA safety compliance: 22 violations across 18 OSHA inspections (1.2 per inspection), vs. national p10 0.0 (best) / p90 5.5 (worst) among 145,626 inspected employers.
  • A Wage & hour compliance: $0 in back wages owed across 1 WHD case ($0 per case), vs. national p10 $2K (best) / p90 $58K (worst) among 91,622 employers with a WHD case on file.
Open my watchlist

How U.S. Postal Service compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Transportation & Warehousing per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows U.S. Postal Service runs far above peers (6.3x 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

$38,601 Bottom 7% least affordable more affordable than 7% of 99,447 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 43,959 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 20,304 U.S. employers with a penalty (20%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,027 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,546 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 4,175 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,877 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,036 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1,493 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Transportation & Warehousing employers with an OSHA inspection on record, placed by inspections and violations cited. The highlighted dot is U.S. Postal Service.

Frequently inspected, many findingsRarely inspected, many findingsFrequently inspected, clean recordBelow median on both15.816.91819.120.21.88.214.520.827.1OSHA inspectionsViolations citedMTA NYCT EAST NEW …, OSHA inspections: 18 · Violations cited: 3U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, OSHA inspections: 18 · Violations cited: 23UPS, OSHA inspections: 19 · Violations cited: 7U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, OSHA inspections: 19 · Violations cited: 5SACRAMENTO REGIONAL …, OSHA inspections: 17 · Violations cited: 18LOS ANGELES COUNTY M…, OSHA inspections: 17 · Violations cited: 13GRIMMWAY ENTERPRISES…, OSHA inspections: 17 · Violations cited: 25U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, OSHA inspections: 17 · Violations cited: 18MTA NYCT EAST NEW YO…, OSHA inspections: 19 · Violations cited: 17U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, OSHA inspections: 19 · Violations cited: 14U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, OSHA inspections: 19 · Violations cited: 8U.S. POSTAL SERVICE …, OSHA inspections: 17 · Violations cited: 22U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, OSHA inspections: 16 · Violations cited: 25LAS CRUCES, CITY OF, OSHA inspections: 16 · Violations cited: 26U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, OSHA inspections: 20 · Violations cited: 22SSA TERMINALS (OAKLA…, OSHA inspections: 16 · Violations cited: 8SEA STAR STEVEDORE C…, OSHA inspections: 16 · Violations cited: 18PACIFIC STEVEDORING,…, OSHA inspections: 16 · Violations cited: 16U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, OSHA inspections: 16 · Violations cited: 23CLARK COUNTY AIRPORT…, OSHA inspections: 16 · Violations cited: 15U.S. Postal Service, OSHA inspections: 18 · Violations cited: 22
U.S. Postal Service has 18 OSHA inspections on record and 22 violations cited. The crosshair marks the median among these Transportation & Warehousing peers. Across this sector's tracked employers, more inspections is moderately associated with more violations found -- not a coincidence, but not a guarantee either.

U.S. Postal Service in the Transportation & Warehousing enforcement ledger

Transportation & Warehousing sector: U.S. Postal Service is the #333 heaviest OSHA penalty carrier of 4,071 employers with nonzero fines ($38,601).

Combined federal exposure here: $38,601 OSHA penalties plus $0 WHD back wages (0.0% of the combined total is wage recovery).

How U.S. Postal Service Compares

U.S. Postal Service's 1.22 violations per inspection compares to the Transportation & Warehousing sector average of 3.2 violations per employer.

Against the Transportation & Warehousing industry average of $6,129 per employer, this employer's current OSHA penalty runs far above peers (6.3x the sector average).

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

18

First Inspection

2010-05-21

Last Inspection

2023-08-03

Inspection Span

13 yrs

Violations / Inspection

1.2

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$2,145

Industry Avg / Inspection

$3,295

What this shows 18 inspections over 13 years, averaging 1.2 violations per visit. That's $2,145 per inspection vs. the Transportation & Warehousing average of $3,295.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

11

Serious

50.0% of total

0

Willful

0.0% of total

0

Repeat

0.0% of total

11

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

$176,667

Current Penalty Amount

$38,601

Penalty Reduction

78.2%

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$38,601

What this shows Penalties were reduced by $138,066 from the initial assessment of $176,667. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Wage & Hour Findings

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

Industry Safety Context: Transportation & Warehousing

How U.S. Postal Service compares to the Transportation & Warehousing sector, which has 9,914 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric U.S. Postal Service Industry Avg
Inspections 18 1.9
Violations 22 3.2
Total Penalty $38,601 $6,129
Avg Penalty per Inspection $2,145 $3,295

Nationwide Transportation & Warehousing peers with similar penalties or inspection counts

Two OSHA-record peer sets for U.S. Postal Service, both outside IL so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment.

Similar current OSHA penalty

Nearest same-sector employers by current assessed penalty ($38,601 here).

Similar OSHA inspection count

Same-sector employers with a comparable inspection history outside this state (18 inspections here).

Nearby & Similar Employers in Transportation & Warehousing

Showing 5 of 9913 other employers tracked in this sector.

Compare U.S. Postal Service vs Diamond T Mail Service, Inc side-by-side →

What to do with this record

Use U.S. Postal Service's enforcement history as one data point, not the whole picture.

  • A single employer's record can look unusual in isolation. Compare U.S. Postal Service against Diamond T Mail Service, Inc, a similarly-sized employer in the same sector, before drawing conclusions. Compare side-by-side
  • See whether U.S. Postal Service's inspection and penalty record is typical for Transportation & Warehousing or an outlier against the sector's own average. View the Transportation & Warehousing sector
  • U.S. Postal Service also carries $0 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 U.S. Postal Service safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, U.S. Postal Service's workplace safety record is mixed, with some compliance concerns. The employer has 22 violations across 18 inspections, including 11 serious violations. Compared to Transportation & Warehousing industry peers, this is above average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does U.S. Postal Service have?
U.S. Postal Service has 22 OSHA violations on record, including 11 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $38,601.
How many OSHA inspections has U.S. Postal Service had?
U.S. Postal Service has had 18 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2010-05-21 and the most recent on 2023-08-03. This averages 1.2 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for U.S. Postal Service?
U.S. Postal Service has been assessed $38,601 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $176,667 (a 78.2% reduction). Additionally, $0 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does U.S. Postal Service have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. U.S. Postal Service has 11 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 U.S. Postal Service been cited for wage theft?
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against U.S. Postal Service, resulting in $0 in back wages owed to an undisclosed number of workers. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does U.S. Postal Service operate in?
U.S. Postal Service operates in the Transportation & Warehousing sector (NAICS code 491110). This industry has 9,914 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 18,441 total OSHA inspections and $60.77M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if U.S. Postal Service owes me wages?
If you believe U.S. Postal Service 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.
Where does U.S. Postal Service rank nationally on OSHA penalties?
Among the 99,447 U.S. employers with a nonzero current OSHA penalty in PlainWorker's corpus, U.S. Postal Service ranks #7,384 (the top 10% 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 U.S. Postal Service's safety record compare to industry average?
U.S. Postal Service's total OSHA penalty of $38,601 is above the Transportation & Warehousing industry average of $6,129 per employer (6.3x the average). The employer has 18 inspections compared to the industry average of 1.9 per employer. For a direct comparison, Diamond T Mail Service, Inc in Roswell, NM is a similar transportation & warehousing 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 18 inspections on record. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.