Keeping workers safe in the nation’s most populous state is an on-going job for many officials.
California’s Labor Enforcement Task Force (LETF) recently discovered safety violations during targeted inspections this summer that put workers in immediate danger of serious injuries (including amputations, paralysis and fractures) and fatalities.
The task force immediately issued orders stopping work at four sites, preventing injuries and requiring employers to correct the hazardous conditions.
LETF is a coalition of California State and local enforcement agencies that formed in 2012 to combat the underground economy. LETF teams conduct monthly inspections targeting employers in high-risk industries.
On Aug. 19, investigators discovered serious safety violations at a food processing plant in Yuba City, a roofing operation in San Diego, and a garment factory in Los Angeles. A fourth violation was discovered on Aug. 25 at a plastering operation in San Diego.
Underground Economy Playing a Factor
“The underground economy exposes workers to dangerous job conditions and financial abuse,” said Christine Baker, director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). “These inspections give us an opportunity to help employers understand how best to protect their employees.” LETF operates under the direction of DIR.
The most serious of the violations discovered occurred with employees of Commercial & Industrial Roofing Company, Inc. in San Diego.
At least four employees were working with no fall protection near the edge of a four-story building’s roof—at a height greater than 50 feet—where a fall would have likely caused death. Cal/OSHA previously cited this business $800 following an accident on June 20, 2008 in which a roofer lacerated his left hand with a high-pressure spray gun.
Potential Falls at One San Diego Business
Similarly serious violations were discovered when LETF inspected Boland Plastering, also in San Diego.
Inspectors observed workers on an 11-foot-high scaffold with a base that was insecure, had missing rails and was not fully planked. A fall from that height could result in head trauma, paralysis or death.
At the New Freedom garment factory in Los Angeles, investigators found both safety and labor law violations.
Workers installing rivets onto pants were using a machine with an exposed flywheel and no safety guards, exposing themselves to finger and hand amputations. In addition, LETF investigators cited the employer $29,257 for failing to carry workers’ compensation, not paying minimum wage or overtime and not providing workers with an itemized wage statement.
Investigators also issued a stop-work order at Bhatti Farms in Yuba City upon observing workers using an unguarded dipping line machine, which is used to process plums into prunes. Without guards, workers could become entangled in the moving parts of the machine, resulting in substantial probability of injuries including fractures or amputations.
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: kstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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