Oregon coffee shop fined for willful COVID-19 violations

An Oregon coffee shop was fined more than $27,000 for willfully exposing its workers to COVID-19, according to a statement released Tuesday by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Bend-based Laui Life Coffee LLC, which does business as Kevista Coffee, “willfully” allowed indoor dining at a time when Deschutes County, where the coffee house is located, was designated an “extreme risk” for COVID-19 transmission, Oregon OSHA said. The coffee house was also cited for failing to develop and implement an infection control plan and failing to conduct any coronavirus risk assessments to identify potential employee exposure to the virus and taking steps to reduce such exposure.

Oregon OSHA’s administrator, Michael Wood, imposed three times the penalty for a willful violation against Kevista, which the agency said was to “ensure a more appropriate deterrent effect where employers insist on disregarding health and safety standards.”

In July 2020, the coffee house also received a fine of $8,900 from Oregon OSHA for willfully failing to implement face-covering mandates.

Kevista has 30 days to appeal the citations. The coffee house did not return a call for comment.

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