Meatpacking Workers Sue OSHA Over Hazardous Working Conditions During COVID-19 Pandemic
View the complimentary webinar, “Instant Replay & Update: Is Your Plant COVID-19 Safe?”A lawsuit filed yesterday against OSHA alleges that the agency did not protect meat packing plant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three workers from Pennsylvania-based Maid-Rite Specialty Foods are suing OSHA for putting workers in “imminent danger” as a result of hazardous working conditions, according to The Washington Post. The lawsuit stated that Maid-Rite did not:
- Implement social distancing measures on the processing lines
- Provide acceptable personal protective equipment
- Address sick workers safely by not separating them
- Tell all workers who may have been in close contact with sick workers
Maid Rite is also accused of incentivizing sick employees to report to work with bonuses.
Both OSHA and Maid Rite have not yet commented on the lawsuit as of yet.
For months, COVID-19 outbreaks at meat and poultry processing plants have been a problem, with more than 11,000 infections being reported.
During the 2020 Food Safety Consortium Virtual Conference Series, experts will address The Intersection of OSHA and Food Safety Personnel during the episode, COVID-19’s Impact on Food Safety Management. This session will occur on Thursday, November 12. Learn more.