The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has cited Safeway $182,000 in proposed penalties for significant safety violations that put approximately 1,700 workers at risk of serious injuries at the company’s warehouse in Tracy, their largest facility in the nation.
Cal/OSHA issued citations for 27 violations, including 8 that were serious in nature, after completing a comprehensive inspection at Safeway’s Northern California Tracy Distribution Center.
Key Issues Identified during this high-hazard industry inspection Include:
– – Manual material handling injuries: Safeway failed to identify and fix issues related to lifting, carrying, and moving heavy items; and did not provide effective training to their supervisors or workers on these hazards.
– – Recordkeeping violations: The employer failed to ensure the accuracy of annual employee injury and illness summaries, and failed to provide injury and illness recordkeeping documents to Cal/OSHA in a timely manner for their review.
– – Indoor heat hazards: Safeway failed to establish and maintain effective procedures to address indoor heat hazards in the warehouse’s dry building, which is not temperature controlled, and failed to effectively train employees on the hazards of indoor heat. Additionally, the company failed to provide access to proper cool-down areas for workers to use during meal breaks.
– – Chemical and health hazards: The employer provided inadequate ventilation or exhaust systems for employees welding in two buildings, risking exposure to toxic substances. Access to eye wash stations and safety showers was deficient in multiple work areas where employees interacted with corrosives.
– – Electrical hazards: The worksite had multiple damaged electrical cords and unsafe electrical panelboards.
– – Training for truck operators: Safeway failed to provide effective refresher training and evaluations for industrial truck operators to ensure that operators had the skills needed to operate trucks safely.
Employers have the right to appeal any Cal/OSHA citation and notification of penalty by filing an appeal with the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board within 15 working days from the receipt of notification.