Cal/OSHA Fines Los Angeles Grocery Stores for Coronavirus Violations

The five grocery stores were fined a total of $104,308 for putting workers at risk for contracting coronavirus.

Cal/OSHA fined five grocery stores in the Los Angeles area on October 1 for failing to protect workers from exposure to COVID-19, according to Business Insurance.

The stores were fined amounts between $13,500 and $25,560. Each of the five grocery stores is owned by Kroger Co., which is based in Ohio.

Some stores failed to adhere to store capacity limits, which did not allow workers to socially distance. Two stores failed to report a fatal COVID-19 case to Cal/OSHA, and two other locations failed to provide proper training on how to avoid infection as well as properly disinfect the stores.

At least two of the grocery stores were cited for not installing barriers to protect workers during interaction with customers.

More information on Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 guidelines can be found at dir.ca.gov.

About the Author

Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety.

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