California’s Division of Occupational Health and Safety, or CAL/OSHA, issued a nearly $200,000 fine to Foster Farms on Monday for “not protecting workers from COVID-19."
The $181,500 fine is one of the largest issued against an employer in the pandemic.
CAL/OSHA monitors and protects workplace safety in California.
The agency issued 12 citations for“[failing] to properly communicate, assess, correct, and train on COVID-19 workplace hazards” at the company’s Central Valley facility in Livingstone.
In addition to failing to protect staff from coronavirus hazards, the agency “determined that Foster Farms and one of its staffing agencies did not timely report the COVID-19 fatality as required,” according to a news release from the agency.
Officials say the agency began its investigation into after receiving notice that an employee had died of COVID-19 complications.
A representative for Foster Farms told The Sacramento Bee the company “does not have a comment” on the citations.
In August 2020, the Merced County Health Department issued a directive to temporarily close the Livingstone facility after 358 employees tested positive for COVID-19. At least nine employees have died.
Jose Piña Tovar has worked at the facility for 15 years and told KCBS Radio during a vigil last fall to remember workers who died that the company gave him one bandana, once, as a means of protection.
"No mask, nada."
Four staffing agencies used by Foster Farms were also cited and fined as a result of the investigation: Human Bees, Inc., Marcos Renteria Ag Services, Inc, Intermountain Employment Services and Staffing Solutions Inc.