Cal/OSHA is reportedly undercounting the number of workers who've gotten seriously sick or died of the coronavirus.
The Sacramento Bee says companies reported only 1600 serious worker illnesses or deaths to Cal/OSHA through mid-December.
Inspectors then determined less than 800 were actually contracted in the workplace.
Laura Stock, director of U-C Berkeley’s Labor Occupational Health Program, says "This pandemic has highlighted the connection between worker health and public health because when workers are exposed in the workplace, they are going to bring it back to their families and communities. And that accurate data is an essential tool for identifying where there are problems and where improvements in working conditions are necessary."
She tells KNX 1070 News undercounting can lead to major consequences.
Cal/OSHA says it can't speculate on the number of cases not reported to it.
The report says Cal/OSHA has fined workplaces that have failed to report serious cases but a staffing shortage at Cal/OSHA has made things difficult.