Cal/OSHA issues COVID-19 safety citations

Six health care facilities, including two nursing homes, and a police department have been cited by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health for failing to take precautions to protect their employees from COVID-19.

In the latest round of citations, the employers are facing penalties ranging from $2,060 to $32,000. All of the citations pertain to lack of required respiratory protection for workers, in addition to other violations, according to a statement released Tuesday by Cal/OSHA. Earlier this month, the agency cited several food manufacturers.

The Santa Rosa Police Department was fined $32,000 for failing to implement required screening and referral procedures for persons exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms in March and failing to report to Cal/OSHA multiple serious illnesses suffered by employees who contracted COVID-19. According to Cal/OSHA, an employee of the police department died from COVID-19 after being exposed to another employee who had exhibited signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and Cal/OSHA did not learn of the fatality until two weeks after the death. 

The police department could not immediately be reached for comment.