Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard:

OSH ACT of 1970 Section 5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, in that employees were working in close proximity to each other and were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), the virus that causes COVID-19. On or about August 18, 2020 and later dates, employees worked in close proximity to each other during the COVID-19 pandemic, including at multi-operator machines (e.g., machine numbers 8, 14, and 18). The employer required employees operating these machines to work approximately two feet from one another for multi-hour shifts while not wearing face coverings. The employer did not fully implement and enforce use of face coverings, social distancing, and other feasible controls for operators of these machines. These conditions exposed employees to the hazard of contracting COVID-19 from other employees at the facility. a) On or about August 18, 2020, two employees worked in close proximity to one another at a multi-operator press. Neither employee wore face coverings. The two employees reported positive tests for COVID-19 on August 24, 2020 and August 25, 2020 respectively. One of the employees subsequently died from complications of the COVID-19 infection. b) On or about September 3, 2020 and September 4, 2020, two employees worked in close proximity to one another at two multi-operator presses. Neither employee wore face coverings. The two employees reported positive tests for COVID-19 on September 6, 2020 and September 13, 2020 respectively.