Cal/OSHA has issued its first-ever citation for a willful-serious violation of the outdoor heat illness standard. It proposes more than $276,000 in penalties.
It cited Parkwood Landscape Maintenance, a landscaping company based in Van Nuys, alleging the company “deliberately and knowingly” violated provisions of General Industry Safety Orders §3395. Cal/OSHA received a complaint against the employer in June, and an investigator says employees were found to be working in high heat—95ºF or higher—without access to water or shade. Cal/OSHA also alleges that workers had to purchase their own water, a direct violation of the heat illness standard.
Official records indicate that Packwood has a worse-than-average EMR and uses an employee leasing firm. It is currently unknown if a leasing firm is involved in this case.
Moreover, Cal/OSHA says that Parkwood lacked written high-heat procedures and did not adequately train its employees in heat illness prevention.
Parkwood was also cited in 2022 for failure to have an effective Heat Illness Prevention Plan and Injury and Illness Prevention Plan, with penalties of $1,400.
Cal-OSHA Reporter requested Parkwood’s comment on whether it plans to appeal the latest action but has not yet received a response.
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