Cal/OSHA issues first ‘serious willful’ heat violation to landscaper

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health announced Thursday it issued its first “serious willful” heat violation against a Van Nuys, California-based landscaping company and ordered it to pay $276,425 for violating the state’s heat illness prevention program.

Cal/OSHA said in its announcement it began its investigation of Parkwood Landscape Maintenance in June after receiving a complaint about employees working outdoors without access to water or heat illness training.

According to the agency, Parkwood failed to provide workers with required heat-related protections, such as access to water, shaded areas and proper training on preventing heat-related illnesses. The company also lacked written procedures for working in high temperatures and required employees to purchase their own drinking water, which violates California’s heat illness prevention standard.

Parkwood was previously cited in 2022 for failing to meet heat safety requirements, the agency said.