Cal/OSHA fines animal services center $563K in dog mauling

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has issued $563,250 in penalties to a San Pedro, California-based animal services center for failing to evaluate and correct overcrowding at their animal shelter, which resulted in animal attacks of employees.

An employee was mauled on May 31 at Harbor Animal Services Center “due to the employer’s willful violations of safety regulations,” Cal/OSHA said in a statement Tuesday.

Cal/OSHA found that the employer “had significant safety and training lapses, which put employees of Harbor Animal Services Center in harm’s way and resulted in a serious injury to the worker, whose leg was badly mauled, requiring hospitalization.”

Los Angeles City Animal Services, which runs the operation, was cited for six violations, including one “general,” two “willful serious,” and three “willful serious accident-related in nature.”

In addition to overcrowding, employees and supervisors received “insufficient” training in handling animals or using personal protective devices, of which “proper assessment and provision of personal protective equipment were not conducted.”

Cal/OSHA also said the center lacked an “effective” communication system, which delayed critical emergency response and treatment for injuries suffered by workers.