WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

100 INSTITUTE RD WASHBURN SHOPS, WORCESTER, MA 01609 · Educational Services

WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE in WORCESTER, MA has been the subject of 4 OSHA workplace inspections and 13 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $56,228. Industry sector: Educational Services. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

4
OSHA Inspections
13
Violations Cited
$56,228
OSHA Penalties

Safety Assessment

WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE has been inspected 4 times by OSHA over 8 years. These inspections resulted in 13 violations, averaging 3.3 violations per inspection. Of these, 9 were classified as serious — indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Compared to the Educational Services industry average of 3 inspections per employer, WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE has been inspected more frequently.

What the Data Says About WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

The federal enforcement record for WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE in WORCESTER, MA includes 4 OSHA inspections and 13 violations, translating to 3.25 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 9 (69.2%) 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 $66,665 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $56,228 — a 15.7% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $14,057. Against the Educational Services industry average of $2,944 per employer, this record runs above peers.

Inspection activity spans from 2015-02-20 to 2023-04-06, a window of roughly 8 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
2015-02-20
Last Inspection
2023-04-06
Inspection Span
8 years
Violations per Inspection
3.3
Avg Penalty per Inspection
$14,057
Industry Avg per Inspection
$1,162

Violation Breakdown

9
Serious
69.2% of total
0
Willful
0.0% of total
0
Repeat
0.0% of total
4
Other-Than-Serious
30.8% 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
$66,665
Current Penalty Amount
$56,228
Penalty Reduction
15.7%

Penalties were reduced by $10,437 from the initial assessment of $66,665. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Industry Safety Context: Educational Services

How WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE compares to the Educational Services sector, which has 3,116 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE Industry Avg
Inspections 4 2.5
Violations 13 5.9
Total Penalty $56,228 $2,944
Avg Penalty per Inspection $14,057 $1,162

Related Data from Other Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE's workplace safety record is concerning, with multiple serious compliance issues. The employer has 13 violations across 4 inspections, including 9 serious violations. Compared to Educational Services industry peers, this is above average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE have?
WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE has 13 OSHA violations on record, including 9 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $56,228.
How many OSHA inspections has WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE had?
WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE has had 4 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2015-02-20 and the most recent on 2023-04-06. This averages 3.3 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE?
WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE has been assessed $56,228 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $66,665 (a 15.7% reduction).
Does WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE has 9 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.
What industry does WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE operate in?
WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE operates in the Educational Services sector (NAICS code 611310). This industry has 3,116 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 7,891 total OSHA inspections and $9.17M in cumulative penalties.
What are my rights if I work at WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE?
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employees at WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 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 WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE?
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.
How does WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE's safety record compare to industry average?
WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE's total OSHA penalty of $56,228 is above the Educational Services industry average of $2,944 per employer (19.1x the average). The employer has 4 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.5 per employer.

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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.

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