Cal/OSHA Issues Citations Following Fatal Bee Attack on Tree Worker
San Bernardino—Cal/OSHA has issued citations to Hadley Date Gardens Inc. of Thermal for serious workplace safety and health violations following a bee swarm that stung and killed a tree worker. The incident serves as a reminder that employers must protect tree workers from these types of hazards.
On July 3, 2017, a tree worker was spraying water on date palm fruit from the elevated bucket of a spraying rig when a beehive was disturbed. The bees repeatedly stung the worker, who suffered anaphylactic shock and died at the site.
“Recognized workplace hazards for tree workers include bee and other harmful insect exposure,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “Employers must identify and evaluate workplace hazards, and provide appropriate personal protective equipment and effective training to their workers.”
Cal/OSHA issued four citations totaling $41,310 in proposed penalties for workplace safety and health violations, two of which were classified as serious accident-related. Hadley Date Gardens, Inc. failed to evaluate the worksite for hazardous bee and insect exposure, and failed to establish appropriate safety protocols, which include providing appropriate personal protective equipment and training that could have prevented this incident.
Cal/OSHA’s Tree Work Safety guidelines specifically cite bee stings as a potentially fatal hazard of which employers must be aware.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, is the division within the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) that helps protect California’s workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace. Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers to improve their safety and health programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services.
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Coroner Identifies Man Who Died Following Bee Stings
July 04, 2017
Gerardo Balbuena died after going into cardiac arrest following bee stings.
Thermal, CA -
The coroner Tuesday released the name of a 49-year-old field worker who died in Thermal after being stung by bees.
He was identified as Gerardo Balbuena of Thermal, the coroner's office reported.
Riverside County firefighters responded at 9:31 a.m. Monday to the area of Avenue 73 and Fillmore Street, where Balbuena was stung while working in a field and began suffering a medical emergency, April Newman of the Riverside County Fire Department said.
Balbuena went into cardiac arrest and firefighters tried to resuscitate him, but he died on the scene, Newman said. It was unclear how many times he was stung.
The exact cause of death remained under investigation.
The family has set up a gofundme page to help with costs.