When people read about a deranged gunman murdering seven agricultural workers at two farms in Half Moon Bay, they likely gave no thought to possible OSHA safety citations for the employers.  However, Cal/OSHA has now investigated those incidents and is proposing penalties against California Terra Garden, Inc. (Terra) and Concord Farms Inc. (Concord) of $113,800 and $51,770 respectively.

Terra’s proposed penalties involve the lack of a plan to immediately notify workers to shelter from an active shooter threat.  Concord’s alleged violations include ignoring earlier incidents of serious violence and failing to implement preventative measures.  Both employers neglected to train workers on such safety plans in a language they understand.

The Cal/OSHA enforcement actions may not be the end of the story, as other agencies are also investigating these incidents.

Cal/OSHA has many good tools on its website, including guidelines for maintaining workplace security.  Employers can use the guidelines when creating their required Injury and Illness Prevention Plan.

Take Aways:

Most places of employment will never be the target of a psychopath looking to cause severe harm.  Regardless, employers should effectively implement and train employees on workplace safety plans from multiple kinds of threats.  All California employers should have an Injury and Illness Prevention Plan.

For further information, please contact Tim Bowles, Cindy Bamforth or Helena Kobrin.

See also:

• Taqueria Tanked After Priest Prank: Restaurant Chain Sought Staff Confessions, Fined for Retaliation (June 23, 2023)
• No Confined Space Canary: Four Companies Cited $1.75 Million for Worker’s Suffocation Death (May 27, 2022)
• Protect Workers from Injury – It’s the Law – and the Right Thing to Do (July 19, 2019)

Helena Kobrin
June 30, 2023