California's Labor Enforcement Task Force Takes Action
to Prevent Worker Fatalities and Serious Injuries
Oakland—California’s Labor Enforcement Task Force (LETF)
has
discovered safety violations during targeted inspections
this
month that put workers in immediate danger of serious injuries
(including amputations, paralysis and fractures) and fatalities. The
task
force immediately issued orders
stopping work
at
four sites, preventing injuries
and requiring employers to correct the hazardous conditions.
LETF is a coalition of California State and local enforcement agencies
that formed in 2012 to combat the underground economy. LETF teams conduct monthly inspections targeting employers
in high-risk industries. On August 19 investigators discovered serious
safety violations
at
a food processing plant in Yuba City, a roofing operation in
San
Diego, and a garment factory in Los Angeles. A fourth violation was
discovered on August 25 at a plastering operation in San Diego.
“The underground economy exposes
workers to dangerous job conditions and financial
abuse,” said Christine Baker, Director of the Department of Industrial
Relations (DIR).
“These inspections
give us an opportunity to help employers
understand how best to
protect their employees.”
LETF operates under the direction of DIR.
The most serious of the violations
discovered this
month occurred with employees of Commercial &
Industrial Roofing Company, Inc. in San Diego. At least four
employees were working with no fall protection near the edge of a four-story building’s
roof—at a
height greater than 50 feet—where a fall
would have likely caused death. Cal/OSHA
previously cited this business
$800 following an accident on June 20, 2008 in which a
roofer lacerated his
left hand with a high-pressure spray gun.
Similarly serious violations were discovered when LETF inspected Boland Plastering,
also
in San Diego. Inspectors observed workers
on
an 11-foot-high scaffold with a base
that
was insecure, had missing rails
and
was not fully planked. A fall from
that height could result in head trauma, paralysis
or death.
“LETF monitors not only for
safety violations, but also for
violations
of
wage, tax and
licensing laws,”
said
Dominic Forrest, Chief of the Labor Enforcement Task Force. “We also offer
information that helps employers
understand and follow their
responsibilities.”
At the New Freedom garment factory in Los Angeles, investigators found both safety
and
labor law violations. Workers installing rivets
onto
pants were using a machine with an exposed flywheel and no safety guards, exposing themselves
to finger and hand amputations. In addition, LETF investigators
cited the employer
$29,257 for failing to
carry
workers’ compensation, not paying minimum wage or overtime and not providing workers with an itemized wage statement.
This month, investigators also issued a stop-work order
at
Bhatti Farms in Yuba City upon observing workers using an unguarded dipping line machine, which is used to
process
plums
into prunes. Without guards, workers
could become entangled in the moving parts
of
the machine, resulting in substantial probability of injuries including fractures or amputations.
Multi-agency joint enforcement produces
significant results, as detailed in a 2015 report to the legislature. LETF
focuses on high-risk
industries known to frequently abuse the rights of low wage workers
such
as car wash, restaurant, manufacturing, roofing, construction, agricultural and auto repair
businesses. To learn more about LETF, the underground economy, and to access educational materials to inform workers of their rights
and
employers of their
responsibilities, please visit the LETF home page.
Leads on underground employers
and
reports of labor law violations
can
be submitted online through
LETF’s Online Referral Form, by emailing the information to
LETF@dir.ca.gov, or by calling LETF toll-free at 1-855-297-5322. LETF labor law publications for
both workers
and employers are also available for free online.
Employees with work-related questions
or complaints may contact DIR’s Call
Center
in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR
(844-522-6734). The California Workers’
Information line at 866-924-9757 provides recorded information in English
and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics.
Members of the press may contact Erika Monterroza or
Peter Melton at (510) 286-1161, and
are encouraged to
subscribe to get email alerts on DIR’s press
releases or
other departmental updates.