Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about OSHA enforcement, wage violations, and how to use PlainWorker.
What is OSHA and what does it enforce?
OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Labor. It sets and enforces workplace safety and health standards for most private-sector employers. OSHA conducts inspections, investigates complaints and accidents, and issues citations and penalties when it finds violations.
What is the Wage and Hour Division?
The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is a division of the U.S. Department of Labor that enforces federal labor standards. It covers the Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage, overtime, child labor), the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Davis-Bacon Act (prevailing wages on federal contracts), and other wage laws.
Where does PlainWorker get its data?
All data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor's public enforcement databases available at data.dol.gov. OSHA inspection data includes inspections from 2010 to the present. WHD case data includes resolved enforcement cases. Both datasets are publicly available under FOIA disclosure policies.
What does the penalty amount mean?
Penalty amounts shown are the current assessed penalties as recorded in the OSHA enforcement database. These may differ from the initial citation amounts due to informal conference settlements, formal contest proceedings, or reductions granted during enforcement. The assessed amount represents the agreed-upon or adjudicated penalty.
What does back wages mean?
Back wages are amounts the WHD determined an employer owed to workers for violations like unpaid minimum wage, unpaid overtime, or improper deductions. These represent amounts owed at the time of enforcement — they may have subsequently been collected in full, partially, or not at all depending on the outcome.
Why doesn't my employer appear in the database?
OSHA inspects only a fraction of US workplaces in any given year, so many employers have never been inspected. The database also uses a minimum threshold: employers with fewer than 2 OSHA inspections or less than $1,000 in WHD back wages are not shown. Absence from PlainWorker does not mean a workplace is safe.
What is the difference between serious and willful violations?
A serious violation is one where the hazard could cause death or serious physical harm and the employer knew (or should have known) about it. A willful violation is more severe — it means the employer intentionally violated OSHA standards or showed plain indifference to worker safety. Willful violations carry higher maximum penalties.
How current is the data?
OSHA data covers inspections from 2010 to the present. WHD data covers completed enforcement cases. Both datasets are updated periodically from data.dol.gov releases. More recent enforcement actions may not appear immediately.