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State enforcement profile · #26 of 56 by penalties · ABOVE-US

Washington — high violations-per-inspection rate

Washington cites 2.53 violations per inspection vs a 2.26 national inspection-weighted average — 28,812 violations across 11,410 inspections.

5,430
Employers
11,410
Inspections
$12.2M
OSHA penalties
$40.2M
Back wages

The state in one line

Washington ranks #26 of 56 U.S. jurisdictions by total OSHA penalties, with 28,812 violations cited across 11,410 inspections and $40.2M in wages recovered for workers.

#26
of 56 states by penalties
2.53
violations per inspection
$2K
avg penalty per employer
966
WHD wage-theft cases

OSHA citation docket

State IMIS book WA · Washington ABOVE-US · LOW-PPE

#26/56 · 11,410 insp · $12.2M

  • BOOK 5,430 employers
  • INSP 11,410 inspections
  • RANK #26 of 56
  • PEN $12.2M
  • RATE 2.53 viol/insp
  • VS-US ABOVE-US
  • WHD $40.2M
  • PHOTO Oregon

Nearest employer-book peer: Oregon ($6.4M penalty gap)

Washington ranks #26 of 56 U.S. jurisdictions by total OSHA penalties, with 28,812 violations cited across 11,410 inspections and $40.2M 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 →

Washington in the OSHA-penalty neighbourhood

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

penalties

What this shows Washington carries $12.2M in assessed OSHA penalties, ranked #26 of 56 jurisdictions.

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

Where Washington ranks nationally

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

$2,251 Bottom 9% least affordable more affordable than 9% 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. Washington $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 Washington.

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
Washington cites 28,812 total violations at an average current penalty of $424.16 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 Washington

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
1King County Metro TransitSeattle22$3.3M
2ZillowSeattle00$2.5M
3Ultra Safe Nuclear CorporationSeattle00$1.5M
4Main Chinese BuffetOlympia00$1.3M
5General Dynamics Land System, Inc.Dupont00$1.0M
6Continental Floral GreensShelton00$962K
7Brothers Landscape Vashon IncVashon00$711K
8Tubro Construction and Carpet CleaningAuburn00$582K
9Spa TherapyBellingham00$521K
10Azimetry Inc.Redmond00$436K
11Pacific Glazing SolutionsWoodinville00$388K
12J & E Meza Plastering, Inc.Pasco00$381K
13Partners Construction INCSeattle628$376K
14Air Design Heating and Air ConditioningSpokane00$332K
15Cannon Construction, IncMilton00$327K
16AEM Consulting, LLCRichland00$311K
17People Tech Group Inc.Bellevue00$310K
18Madison Manor & Edith Posadas, 3(d) EmployerTacoma00$290K
19Evergreen Drywall LLCPuyallup00$286K
20Shell Oil Products U.S.Anacortes810$273K

All employers in Washington

EmployerCityInspectionsPenalty
Wa317965957 - Hunter Distributing CorporationTumwater2$0
Wa317965958 - Barnhart Crane & Rigging COSpokane Valley2$0
Wa317965622 - Sign Post INC theBellingham2$0
U.S. Navy Exchange Home GalleryOak Harbor2$0
U.S. Postal ServiceTacoma3$0
U.S. Marshals ServiceVancouver3$0
Noaa Northwest Fisheries Science CenterSeattle5$0
Noaa Alaska Fisheries Science CenterSeattle5$0
Noaa Corporate ServicesSeattle3$0
Noaa Pacific Marine Environmental LaboratorySeattle3$0
Noaa Pacific Hydrographic BranchSeattle3$0
U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementFerndale2$0
U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Lynden PoeLynden2$0
U.S. Postal Service- Ballard Carrier AnnexSeattle5$0
PSW Electric 1, INC.Joint Base Lewis McChord2$0
U.S. Dept of Agriculture Rural DevelopmentPort Angeles2$0
Department of Veterans Affairs Federal Way Vet CenterFederal Way3$0
U.S. Geological Survey - Field Service FacilityLakewood3$0
Blythe Plumbing and Heating, INC.Oak Harbor3$0
RQ Construction, LLCOak Harbor3$0
Veca Electric Company, INC.Oak Harbor2$0
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Blaine Sector Patrol HeadquartersBlaine3$0
Madigan Army Medical CenterTacoma3$0
Veterans Health Administration, Puget Sound Health Care System, American LakeJoint Base Lewis McChord2$0
Naval Hospital BremertonBremerton2$0
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bellingham PoeBellingham2$0
Noaa NW Fisheries Manchester Research StationPort Orchard3$0
Food and Drug Administration, Seattle District OfficeBothell3$0
Bonneville Power Administration, Raver SubstationRavensdale3$0
Defense Logistics AgencyBremerton2$0
Pivetta Brothers Construction, INCJoint Base Lewis McChord2$0
CHG Building Systems, INC.Oak Harbor2$0
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Tacoma PoeTacoma3$0
Bonneville Power Administration Schultz SubstationEllensburg2$0
Bonneville Power Administration Ellensburg SubstationEllensburg2$0
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Poe Canine Enforcement Team/Air Cargo OfficeSeatac5$0
Veterans Affairs: Puget Sound Health Care SystemSeattle4$0
Veterans NW Construction, LLCOak Harbor2$0
U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Port of SeattleSeattle2$0
Bureau of Indian Affairs Puget Sound AgencyEverett2$0
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 LaboratoryPort Orchard3$0
Defense Commissary Agency, Smokey PointMarysville4$0
National Park Service, Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park-SeattleSeattle2$0
Drug Enforcement AdministrationTacoma4$0
Bonneville Power AdministrationChehalis2$0
Marshals Service, Western District Office of WashingtonSeattle3$0
M.a. Mortenson CompanyJoint Base Lewis McChord2$0
U.S. Forest Service, LeavenworthLeavenworth2$0
Usda Farm Service AgencyLake Stevens2$0
Veterans Affairs Tacoma Vet CenterTacoma2$0
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Industries in Washington

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

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 Washington

The 20 cities with the most employers in the federal enforcement record within Washington (of 142 total).

Seattle (698)Tacoma (319)Vancouver (243)Spokane (231)Olympia (150)Everett (137)Bellingham (137)Yakima (124)Kent (115)Puyallup (105)Bellevue (100)Moses Lake (86)Kennewick (74)Pasco (64)Lynnwood (63)Wenatchee (62)Mount Vernon (62)Longview (61)Auburn (58)Chehalis (57)

View all 142 cities in Washington →

Nationwide states with similar OSHA penalties or violation rates

Two enforcement-record peer sets for Washington: 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

Nearest jurisdictions by total assessed OSHA penalties ($12.2M here).

Alaska $12.0M Hawaii $12.7M Maryland $13.1M Oklahoma $13.1M

Similar violations per inspection

States with similarly high violations-per-inspection rates (2.53 here vs 2.26 US average).

North Carolina 2.53/insp Ohio 2.57/insp Wisconsin 2.45/insp Arkansas 2.45/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 →