California is getting tough on Covid-19 regulations. On Friday, the state’s Department of Industrial Relations issued 11 citations with proposed penalties ranging from $2,025 to $51,190.
The Department of Industrial Relations said the companies were cited for not protecting workers from exposure to Covid-19 because they did not take steps to update their workplace safety plans to properly address virus hazards. The citations came after inspections of industries where workers have a higher risk of exposure including food processing, meatpacking, healthcare, agriculture and retail.
“These are industries where workers have been disproportionately affected, and these citations are the first of many to be issued in the coming weeks and months,” Cal/OSHA Chief Doug Parker said.
Firms cited, according to the Department of Industrial Relations are:
- DL Poultry Inc., a food processing firm in Monterey Park, California. Proposed penalties are $51,190.
- Uni-Kool Partners, a food processing firm in Salinas, California. Proposed penalties are $5,850.
- Olson Meat Co., a meatpacking facility in Orland, California. Proposed penalties are $9,000.
- Sutter Bay Medical Foundation, a healthcare firm in Berkeley, California. Proposed penalties are $6,750.
- Serve Max Farm Labor Contractor* in Vacaville, California. Proposed penalties are $11,250.
- Ruiz Farm Labor* in Dixon, California. Proposed penalties are $4,500.
- Michel Labor Services Inc.* in Dixon, California. Proposed penalties are $11,700.
- Sierra-Cascade Nursery Inc. in Macdoel, California. Proposed penalties are $4,050.
- Planasa LLC*, an agricultural firm in Macdoel, California. Proposed penalties are $5,400.
- Duncan Family Farms* in Tulelake, California. Proposed penalties are $5,060.
- M&J Williams Inc. DBA Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Santa Clara, California. Proposed penalties are $2,025.
*For firms with asterisks, their penalties also include violations for heat illness violations, according to the state.
DL Poultry and Olson Meat Co. put workers at risk for serious illness because they did not ensure their workers were physically distanced at least six feet apart in the processing area, nor did they install Plexiglas or other barriers between the workers, according to the Department of Industrial Relations. Uni-Kool Partners put workers at risk as it did not implement procedures to screen employees and visitors arriving at the facility and failed to take appropriate measures for employees who exhibited Covid-19 symptoms at the facility, according to the department.
Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation in Berkeley was cited after an employee became ill with Covid-19, the department said. The state found the employer did not comply with the “Aerosol Transmissible Disease” standard that requires proper respiratory protection in healthcare settings when transporting patients suspected of having airborne infectious diseases such as Covid-19.