California’s Division of Occupational Health and Safety, or CAL/OSHA, fined Foster Farms almost $200,000 for “not protecting workers from COVID-19" Monday.
CAL/OSHA monitors and protects workplace safety in California.
Cal/OSHA found Foster Farms “[failed] to properly communicate, assess, correct, and train on COVID-19 workplace hazards” at the company’s Livingstone facility.
The state agency began its investigation into Foster Farms’ Livingston location after receiving notice of an employee's death from COVID-19 complications. 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.
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. Eight employees died.
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.