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States › Kentucky

State enforcement profile · #44 of 56 by penalties · AT/BELOW-US

Kentucky — lower-penalty enforcement profile

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), Kentucky has 1,613 employers in the federal enforcement record, with 1,881 OSHA inspections and $5.7M in penalties assessed. The state's Wage and Hour Division has recovered $24.8M in back wages across 993 enforcement cases.

1,613
Employers
1,881
Inspections
$5.7M
OSHA penalties
$24.8M
Back wages

The state in one line

Kentucky ranks #44 of 56 U.S. jurisdictions by total OSHA penalties, with 3,171 violations cited across 1,881 inspections and $24.8M in wages recovered for workers.

#44
of 56 states by penalties
1.69
violations per inspection
$4K
avg penalty per employer
993
WHD wage-theft cases

OSHA citation docket

State IMIS book KY · Kentucky AT/BELOW-US · LOW-PPE

#44/56 · 1,881 insp · $5.7M

  • BOOK 1,613 employers
  • INSP 1,881 inspections
  • RANK #44 of 56
  • PEN $5.7M
  • RATE 1.69 viol/insp
  • VS-US AT/BELOW-US
  • WHD $24.8M
  • PHOTO Nebraska

Nearest employer-book peer: Nebraska ($10.5M penalty gap)

Kentucky ranks #44 of 56 U.S. jurisdictions by total OSHA penalties, with 3,171 violations cited across 1,881 inspections and $24.8M in wages recovered for workers. OSHA IMIS + DOL WHD citation stamps for this jurisdiction. Read with this state → · Worst-cited employer → · Similar-footprint state → · Compare employers →

Kentucky in the OSHA-penalty neighbourhood

Total assessed OSHA penalties among this state and nearest employer-book peers

penalties

What this shows Kentucky carries $5.7M in assessed OSHA penalties, ranked #44 of 56 jurisdictions.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts As of 2026

Where Kentucky ranks nationally

Average OSHA penalty per tracked employer, vs all 56 U.S. jurisdictions

$3,541 Bottom 16% least affordable more affordable than 16% of 56 U.S. jurisdictions

$0–$2,000: 5 U.S. jurisdictions (9%). Below this entry. $2,000–$4,000: 9 U.S. jurisdictions (16%). This entry sits in this band. $4,000–$6,000: 17 U.S. jurisdictions (30%). Above this entry. $6,000–$8,000: 10 U.S. jurisdictions (18%). Above this entry. $8,000–$10,000: 5 U.S. jurisdictions (9%). Above this entry. $10,000–$12,000: 4 U.S. jurisdictions (7%). Above this entry. $12,000–$14,000: 2 U.S. jurisdictions (4%). Above this entry. $14,000–$16,000: 3 U.S. jurisdictions (5%). Above this entry. $16,000–$18,000: 0 U.S. jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. $18,000–$20,000: 0 U.S. jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. $20,000–$22,000: 1 U.S. jurisdictions (2%). Above this entry. $22,000–$24,000: 0 U.S. jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. Kentucky $0 $24,000 every U.S. jurisdiction, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $2K-wide band; taller bars hold more U.S. jurisdictions. 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

Do more violations mean harsher penalties?

Each dot is one of the 56 U.S. jurisdictions with both violation and penalty data, placed by total violations cited and the average current penalty per violation. The highlighted dot is Kentucky.

High volume, high penaltyLow volume, high penaltyHigh volume, low penaltyBelow median on both020897.041793.962690.983587.9$26.7$1330.4$2634.1$3937.8$5241.6Total violations citedAverage penalty per violationCalifornia, Total violations cited: 62917 · Average penalty per violation: $1931.91New Jersey, Total violations cited: 51588 · Average penalty per violation: $2257.14Texas, Total violations cited: 37481 · Average penalty per violation: $3006.51Ohio, Total violations cited: 33085 · Average penalty per violation: $3209.32Illinois, Total violations cited: 38576 · Average penalty per violation: $2518.72Pennsylvania, Total violations cited: 34307 · Average penalty per violation: $2124.18New York, Total violations cited: 79647 · Average penalty per violation: $851.4Wisconsin, Total violations cited: 23614 · Average penalty per violation: $2667.32Florida, Total violations cited: 20137 · Average penalty per violation: $2911.21Georgia, Total violations cited: 23607 · Average penalty per violation: $2424.16Virginia, Total violations cited: 29121 · Average penalty per violation: $1651.15Michigan, Total violations cited: 67640 · Average penalty per violation: $671.06Alabama, Total violations cited: 14683 · Average penalty per violation: $2955.54Nevada, Total violations cited: 18844 · Average penalty per violation: $1778.2Missouri, Total violations cited: 12358 · Average penalty per violation: $2481.04Massachusetts, Total violations cited: 12091 · Average penalty per violation: $2401.87Connecticut, Total violations cited: 23647 · Average penalty per violation: $1188.05Kansas, Total violations cited: 9514 · Average penalty per violation: $2852.86Tennessee, Total violations cited: 38865 · Average penalty per violation: $633.23Colorado, Total violations cited: 11833 · Average penalty per violation: $1925.51Iowa, Total violations cited: 10267 · Average penalty per violation: $1892.75Nebraska, Total violations cited: 4514 · Average penalty per violation: $3581.2Oklahoma, Total violations cited: 5020 · Average penalty per violation: $2618.51Maryland, Total violations cited: 24360 · Average penalty per violation: $537.35Hawaii, Total violations cited: 9120 · Average penalty per violation: $1397.7Washington, Total violations cited: 28812 · Average penalty per violation: $424.16Alaska, Total violations cited: 11441 · Average penalty per violation: $1050.89Mississippi, Total violations cited: 4912 · Average penalty per violation: $2280.7North Carolina, Total violations cited: 18017 · Average penalty per violation: $593.13Arkansas, Total violations cited: 3343 · Average penalty per violation: $3153.71Maine, Total violations cited: 8054 · Average penalty per violation: $1235.73Puerto Rico, Total violations cited: 11369 · Average penalty per violation: $851.43Delaware, Total violations cited: 1884 · Average penalty per violation: $5004.52Louisiana, Total violations cited: 3408 · Average penalty per violation: $2525.26North Dakota, Total violations cited: 1761 · Average penalty per violation: $4787.03New Hampshire, Total violations cited: 3281 · Average penalty per violation: $2336.7Idaho, Total violations cited: 3829 · Average penalty per violation: $1867.02West Virginia, Total violations cited: 3289 · Average penalty per violation: $2142.24Utah, Total violations cited: 6414 · Average penalty per violation: $1044.66Rhode Island, Total violations cited: 3528 · Average penalty per violation: $1806.54Indiana, Total violations cited: 4225 · Average penalty per violation: $1430.22South Dakota, Total violations cited: 1901 · Average penalty per violation: $3123.16Oregon, Total violations cited: 21930 · Average penalty per violation: $263.72Kentucky, Total violations cited: 3171 · Average penalty per violation: $1801.2Montana, Total violations cited: 2718 · Average penalty per violation: $2076Minnesota, Total violations cited: 9173 · Average penalty per violation: $604.31New Mexico, Total violations cited: 2690 · Average penalty per violation: $1987.11Wyoming, Total violations cited: 2936 · Average penalty per violation: $1582.38Guam, Total violations cited: 3356 · Average penalty per violation: $1368.12Vermont, Total violations cited: 3044 · Average penalty per violation: $1498.54Arizona, Total violations cited: 8689 · Average penalty per violation: $523.14District of Columbia, Total violations cited: 2002 · Average penalty per violation: $1600.22South Carolina, Total violations cited: 5382 · Average penalty per violation: $551.38American Samoa, Total violations cited: 829 · Average penalty per violation: $3521.93Virgin Islands, Total violations cited: 2592 · Average penalty per violation: $737.45Northern Mariana Islands, Total violations cited: 943 · Average penalty per violation: $1423.52
Kentucky cites 3,171 total violations at an average current penalty of $1801.20 per violation. The crosshair marks the median jurisdiction on both axes. Across this dataset, citing more violations is mildly ASSOCIATED WITH A LOWER average penalty per violation, not a higher one -- the opposite of what volume alone might suggest.

Top OSHA & wage enforcement actions in Kentucky

Ranked by combined OSHA penalties and DOL Wage & Hour Division back wages. Some employers below have wage-theft cases with zero OSHA safety violations, or vice versa; check the Inspections/Violations columns before drawing safety conclusions.

#EmployerInspectionsViolationsPenalty + wages
1United Eletric CompanyLouisville00$2.0M
2New Model Logistics, LLCSimpsonville00$1.2M
3United Electric Co.Louisville00$1.0M
4Winit America, Inc.Hebron00$1.0M
5FCI Federal, Inc.Williamsburg00$810K
6FCI Federal, Inc.Williamsburg00$804K
7SentureLondon00$615K
8Krispy KremeLouisville00$594K
9Fiesta Time Amigos, Inc.Prospect00$577K
10Dauenhauer PlumbingLouisville00$362K
11American Security ProgramCovington00$277K
12TechFlyte, LLCLouisville00$269K
13Coalburg Enterprises, Inc.Lovely00$263K
14First Marine, LLC, a Division of Western Rivers Boat Management, INC., Assumed Name for WRBM, LLCCalvert City235$247K
15Steve AsmussenLouisville00$234K
16Asian BuffetShelbyville00$234K
17El NopalLouisville00$234K
18Cumberland Behavior GroupSomerset00$226K
19B & F Contracting, Inc.Ashland00$213K
20West Sixth NuluLouisville00$204K

All employers in Kentucky

EmployerCityInspectionsPenalty
Jason Michaels DBA Prime VenturesRussellville2$35K
Oshii SushiLouisville0$0
T& D SolutionsClay0$0
New Hope Counseling and RecoveryLondon0$0
SubwayMiddlesboro0$0
Basham PaintingLeitchfield0$0
Hot Head BurritosErlanger0$0
Crabb Farms Inc.Smithfield0$0
Estepp's Friendly ShellLexington0$0
Bluegrass Lawn & Garden, Inc.Louisville0$0
McDonald'sLouisville0$0
Automax of LouisvilleLouisville0$0
Stacktight LLCCarrollton3$33K
David Quiggins DBA Born to RoofLouisville2$32K
Century Aluminum of Kentucky General PartnershipHawesville21$32K
Three Rivers Boat & Barge, INC.Ledbetter4$32K
Papa Murphy'sLouisville0$0
M Dotson ContractingPrestonsburg0$0
Gibbs Die Casting CorporationHenderson6$31K
Campus Quilt Company, LLCLouisville2$31K
Springhurst Health and RehabLouisville0$0
Journey to Independent Living, LLCGreensburg0$0
MultiserveRichmond0$0
Glaser's Collision CenterLouisville0$0
Garcia's Restaurant, Inc.Bowling Green0$0
Briggs & Stratton CorporationMurray3$30K
KaceeShelbyville0$0
Konsei USA, INC.Hodgenville2$22K
Smith Brothers ExcavatingManchester0$0
Baptist Healthcare System IncCorbin0$0
Wild Ginger, LLCLouisville0$0
Air Extreme Heating & CoolingAshland0$0
Aleris Rolled Products LLCLewisport3$29K
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, INC.Georgetown7$29K
Howard Ball Moving and Storage, Inc.Louisville0$0
Sake Blue Japanese BistroLouisville0$0
Markland Consulting GroupLouisville0$0
Sol AztecasLouisville0$0
Villaspring of ErlangerErlanger0$0
Crounse CorporationPaducah3$28K
Taubensee Steel & Wire CO.Henderson3$28K
United Renovations LPLouisville2$27K
Cox Interior, INC.Campbellsville4$27K
Hardin County IndustriesElizabethtown0$0
R.E. Cook Electrical CompanyLexington0$0
Darwin HeardRockfield0$0
Integral Structures, Inc.Louisville0$0
Anthony Anglin DBA Quality CleanersBerea3$27K
Kandle Dining ServicesIndependence0$0
Omar Morales DBA Morales RoofingLexington2$26K
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Industries in Kentucky

Enforcement and wage-compliance data broken out by industry sector within Kentucky.

Accommodation & Food ServicesAdministrative & Waste ServicesAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing & HuntingArts, Entertainment & RecreationConstructionEducational ServicesFinance & InsuranceHealthcare & Social AssistanceInformationManufacturingMining, Quarrying, Oil & GasOtherOther ServicesProfessional & Technical ServicesPublic AdministrationReal Estate & RentalRetail TradeTransportation & WarehousingUtilitiesWholesale Trade

Top Cities in Kentucky

The 20 cities with the most employers in the federal enforcement record within Kentucky (of 61 total).

Louisville (412)Lexington (136)Fort Campbell (56)Bowling Green (50)Owensboro (44)Florence (34)Paducah (32)Elizabethtown (32)Frankfort (24)Fort Knox (23)Richmond (22)Ashland (20)Covington (20)Shelbyville (19)Hopkinsville (18)Erlanger (18)Calvert City (16)London (16)Murray (15)Harrodsburg (14)

View all 61 cities in Kentucky →

Nationwide states with similar OSHA penalties or violation rates

Two enforcement-record peer sets for Kentucky: nearest jurisdictions by total assessed OSHA penalties and by violations per inspection. These are cross-state neighborhoods, not the employer-book peers above.

Similar total OSHA penalties

Lower-penalty jurisdictions nationwide with similar inspection-weighted violation rates to Kentucky.

Montana $5.6M Oregon $5.8M Minnesota $5.5M South Dakota $5.9M

Similar violations per inspection

States with lower inspection-weighted violation rates near Kentucky's 1.69 per inspection.

Utah 1.67/insp Puerto Rico 1.65/insp Nevada 1.64/insp California 1.73/insp

Source: OSHA Enforcement Data, U.S. Department of Labor · Verify with OSHA establishment search →
Source: Wage & Hour Division Compliance Actions, U.S. Department of Labor · DOL WHD data →