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Cal/OSHA fines meat processors for COVID-19 violations

Posted On: Dec. 24, 2020 9:44 AM CST

meat plant

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has fined several meat processors and temporary employment agencies more than $265,000 for failing to protect workers from COVID-19, the agency said in a statement Wednesday.

Cal/OSHA initiated inspections of the meat processors’ plants after receiving complaints and notifications of workers with COVID-19 and a COVID-19 fatality at a plant. The agency said the employers failed to ensure workers had proper face coverings in production areas and failed to implement safe physical distancing procedures.

“Enforcement of COVID-19 protections at meatpacking and food processing facilities has been a priority of Cal/OSHA given the high rates of positive cases and alarming number of deaths among food processing workers,” Cal/OSHA Chief Doug Parker said in a statement. “These citations represent a portion of our enforcement efforts in these industries. More citations will be issued when violations are identified and inspections are closed.”

California Farms Meat Co. Inc., Central Valley Meat Holding Co., CLW Foods LLC, OWB Packers LLC, Smithfield Foods Inc. and three temporary employment agencies that provide employees for the meatpacking industry were cited for various violations. These included failure to:

  • Ensure workers wore face coverings and socially distanced during breaks
  • Provide effective training and instruction on how COVID-19 is spread
  • Properly disinfect the plants
  • Inform employees of possible exposure when co-workers tested positive
  • Install protective barriers
  • Report illnesses and a COVID-19 fatality within an eight-hour time frame

The investigators also said that Smithfield failed to adequately address at least 300 COVID-19 illnesses — three of which required hospitalizations — at its Vernon, California, plant.

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.