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California cites poultry company and four of its staffing providers for Covid violations
May 25, 2021
The California Department of Industrial Relations cited Foster Poultry Farms Inc. and four staffing agencies for Covid-19 violations at a location in Livingston, California.
It noted that it opened an inspection after being notified that an employee had died from Covid-19 complications. The department reported that it determined Foster Farms and one of its staffing agencies did not timely report the Covid-19 fatality as required.
In addition, the department conducted a separate inspection at the facility’s distribution center.
Citations were issued as follows:
Foster Poultry Farms Inc. (poultry plan), $103,100 in proposed penalties
Staffing Proposed penalties for all violations cited, including those related to COVID-19
Cal/OSHA cited Foster Farms $103,100, for five serious, one repeat regulatory, and two regulatory violations at its Livingston plant; and $78,400 for three serious, one repeat regulatory, and two regulatory violations at the distribution center. Regulatory violations were issued in both Foster Farms inspections and to Human Bees, Inc. for their failure to timely report work-related fatalities. Additionally, Cal/OSHA issued serious violations related to their Injury and Illness Prevention Programs many of which stemmed from failing to properly communicate, assess, correct, and train on COVID-19 workplace hazards. The third serious violation at the plant was cited for a blocked eyewash station.