No mask? Big problem, says OSHA, slaps biz with $136K fine

OSHA just levied one of its largest ever COVID-19-related fines: $136,000. The reason? The business wouldn’t let its employees wear masks.

We’re not talking about a massive business or even a healthcare facility. At any given time, each of Liberty Tax Service of Lynn’s two locations would have between five and six people working on-site.

Yet the owner refused to let not only employees but customers wear masks, insisting they were a “deadly” health hazard.

COVID-19-related fines, by the numbers

That figure is staggering when you consider that a meatpacking plant where four workers died from the virus only received a $13,494 slap on the wrist.

Why such a hefty fine this time? Because the employer “willfully” disregarded both employee and customer health.

This is far from the only fine. Take a look at just some of the most recent ones levied by California OSHA:

• San Quentin State Prison for $421,880
• Kaiser Permanente San Leandro (hospital) for $87,950
• Fremont Healthcare Center (nursing care) for $59,000
• BSF Fitness II LLC for $57,740
• Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center (hospital) for $56,000
• Sunray Healthcare Center (nursing care) for $53,805
• Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center (hospital) for $45,000
• Avenal State Prison for $39,600
• San Miguel Villa (nursing care) for $32,000
• Cardenas Market for $30,670
• Grimmway Enterprises Inc. for $30,600
• Mills-Peninsula Medical Center (hospital) for $25,250
• NorthBay Medical Center (hospital) for $25,250
• Coldwater Care Center LLC doing business as Sherman Village Healthcare Center (nursing care) for $21,115, and
• Carter’s Children’s Wear for $15,125.

OSHA is making it clear it’s not easing up on workplaces anytime soon, no matter what the industry.

And remember, many states require COVID-specific safety training.