Workplace safety enforcement data for 62,574 inspected facilities across Virginia.
Virginia has 62574 OSHA-inspected facilities with cumulative penalties totaling $140.0M. The state's average penalty of $2,237.86 is below the national average of $2,498.69. Federal investigators have documented 328588 total citations across Virginia, including 438 cases involving willful violations — the most severe classification under the OSH Act.
Analyst Commentary
Virginia’s workplace safety landscape is characterized by a robust and rigorous enforcement framework, as evidenced by the 62,574 total inspected facilities recorded in the state's historical data. This high volume of oversight has resulted in a cumulative penalty burden of $140,032,039, reflecting a consistent commitment to holding employers accountable for safety standards. When examining the average penalty per facility, which stands at $2,237.86, we see a figure that suggests a focus on corrective measures rather than purely punitive financial devastation. This average is particularly noteworthy given Virginia's diverse economic profile, which includes a heavy concentration of federal contracting, high-tech manufacturing, and logistics hubs. For a state with such a significant industrial and maritime presence, these statistics indicate that the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) program maintains a steady cadence of inspections to mitigate risks inherent in its growing labor market.
The sheer scale of enforcement is further highlighted by the 328,588 total citations issued, a number that signals deep-seated compliance challenges across various sectors. Compliance professionals should be particularly aware that these violations are likely driven by Virginia’s thriving construction and shipbuilding industries, as well as its expanding warehousing sector. The distinctive nature of Virginia’s enforcement profile lies in its status as a "State Plan" state, meaning it operates its own safety and health program rather than relying solely on federal OSHA. This often leads to more localized scrutiny and specific emphasis programs targeting high-risk regional activities like excavation or fall protection. Professionals must recognize that the high frequency of citations per inspection suggests that once an inspector is on-site, they are highly effective at identifying multiple points of failure. Maintaining a proactive safety culture is essential to avoid becoming part of these escalating cumulative statistics.