The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited pork producer Smithfield Foods for failing to protect workers exposed to the coronavirus, the agency announced Thursday.
In it, a fine of 13,494 was proposed, which is the maximum sanctioned by law at Sioux Falls, Smithfield Packaged Meat Corp., this is OSHA’s first coronavirus-related testimonial, which is part of the Department of Labor.
The Sioux Falls plant coronavirus outbreak in April and OSHA cited the company for a breach of the general duty clause for failing to provide a risk-free workplace. OSHA has confirmed that at least 1,294 Smithfield workers contracted the coronavirus, and four workers died from the virus in the spring of 2020, OSHA has confirmed.
Smithfield responded Thursday that the OSHA testimonial was “completely unqualified” and that he plans to fight it. Smithfield has 15 business days to receive a compliment and receive a penalty, request an informal conference with the OSHA or fight the findings formally.
After months of scrutiny, including a review of documents and an interview of 20,000 pages and interviews, OSHA issued only one compliment on March 23, 2020, for its precedent under the “General Duty Clause”, Corporate Affairs and Keira Lombardo, executive vice president of compliance Smithfield, said in a statement.
He added that Smithfield had taken “extraordinary steps” to keep employees healthy and “immediately responded when there was a spike at the Sioux Flux plant,” with advice. [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] CDC, South Dakota Department of Health, [U.S. Department of Agriculture] USDA and many others. “
The OSHA guideline states that companies must take proactive measures to protect workers, including enforcing social distance, providing facial covering and establishing physical barriers. Despite months of unions, Democrats and labor advocates, the OSHA has refused to impose a nationwide Covid-19 work safety standard by the Emergency Temporary Standard.
U.S. The Sioux Falls plant, which accounts for about a percent of production in pig production, was temporarily shut down in April due to an outbreak. Smithfield was also prosecuted for failing to rescue workers at the Missouri plant during the epidemic.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Vern Runcourt documents show that the Postal Service removed 711 mail-sorting machines overnight this year: Trump privately called the coronavirus ‘deadly’ when compared to the flu in public. Health officials vow to keep politics out of vaccination process | Senate report delays mail delivery prescriptions Defense: Woodward Book Causes New Firestorm The book says Trump attacked generals, telling Woodward about the secret weapons system in the U.S. Thousands more troops are being withdrawn from Iraq (D-Mass.) Reacting to the fine on Thursday, he said it was not enough and that Smithfield’s CEO should be held accountable.
“These nominal, months-late fines are not enough and if OSHA was serious about doing its job, it would aggressively pursue its investigation and enforcement activity to hold giant meatpackers accountable and issue an emergency temporary standard with its enforcement health and safety. Protection, ”he said.
Warren and Sen. Corey Booker
Corey Anthony Booker – Post-Parliament Convention The world’s new brave NJ governor proposes 000 ‘baby bonds’ to close the wealth gap for children, calling for ‘Hill America’ between Biden-Harris ad Republican convention More (DNJ) launched an investigation in June into allegations of exploitation of workers at Smithfield and other top meatpacking companies, among other issues.
In a public response, Smithfield’s CEO said, “The allegation that we are not prepared to implement workers’ protection is clearly and demonstrably false.”
“Lying to Congress is a federal crime,” Congressman Ren said Thursday. “If Smithfield’s CEO had been aware of OSHA’s findings at the time, he would have been held accountable for the allegations of worker abuse.”
.
