Washington State Farm Company Fined $2 Million for COVID-19 Safety Violations
Gebbers Farm Operations was cited for 24 safety violations after an employee complaint prompted an investigation in July.
- By Nikki Johnson-Bolden
- Dec 23, 2020
An agricultural company in Washington state was fined more than $2 million for numerous coronavirus safety violations, according to USA Today.
The fine is the result of a July investigation by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). An employee at Gebbers Farm Operations contacted (L&I) to report that a coworker died of COVID-19 and that workers who shared a cabin with that worker were not tested.
After the investigation, Gebbers Farm Operations was cited for 24 “egregious willful violations” and fined $2,038,200.
“It’s unacceptable to choose to ignore health and safety rules,” said Joel Sacks, director of L&I.
More information on Washington state L&I’s coronavirus guidelines can be found at lni.wa.gov.
About the Author
Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety.