HHS OCR report · 2017
W. W. Grainger, Inc. data breach
W. W. Grainger, Inc., a health plan in Illinois, reported a breach affecting 1,594 individuals to HHS OCR on Sep 18, 2017.
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- W. W. Grainger, Inc.
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Illinois
- Individuals affected
- 1,594
- Submission date
- Sep 18, 2017
- Type of breach
- Theft
- Location of breached information
- Laptop
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
W. W. Grainger, Inc., (WWGI), the covered entity (CE), reported that an employee’s laptop containing the protected health information (PHI) of 1,594 individuals was stolen from his unlocked vehicle. The PHI involved included names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, addresses, and other demographic information. WWGI notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and provided substitute notice. As a result of OCR’s investigation, WWGI implemented additional administrative safeguards a...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the W. W. Grainger, Inc. data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,594 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Sep 18, 2017.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Theft, with the breached information located in: Laptop.
Is the investigation still open?
No. The report is in the OCR portal archive, which holds reports where OCR has closed its review.
Is a breach notice letter from W. W. Grainger, Inc. legitimate?
This site cannot verify letters. Check the sender against the organisation's official website and the HHS OCR breach portal, and avoid calling numbers or clicking links only listed in an unexpected message. See our guide on what to do after a data breach notice.
Source: HHS OCR Breach Portal, OCR export October 2026. Network USA is not affiliated with HHS or W. W. Grainger, Inc..