The Washington state Department of Labor and Industries has once again fined Yakima area Evans Fruit Company for COVID-19 workplace violations. The company was fined $150,000 for two “willful serious violations” for no following workplace mask and social distancing requirements. This is the third time that Evans Fruit Company has been cited for coronavirus safety and health violations.

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L&I said the violations are willful in that the company knew employees were required to wear masks and the employer knowingly did not enforce it. Because the violations are considered willful, the penalty is 10 times larger. The violations are deemed serious due to the risk of serious illness or death from exposure to COVID-19.

L&I opened the most recent investigation October 14th, after receiving an anonymous complaint about several safety and health issues at the Cowiche worksite, including a lack of social distancing.  While inspecting the Evans fruit-packing warehouse, an L&I investigator reported numerous workers in different areas not socially distanced or without physical barriers between them. There were also several workers in the warehouse and the office who were not wearing masks as required. The Evans Fruit Co. safety manager said he would not require any worker to wear a mask.  As a result, L&I issued an Order and Notice of Immediate Restraint, requiring immediate compliance. Evans Fruit reportedly came into compliance within a half-hour of receiving the notice.

Evans Fruit Co. was fined $6,600 after two inspections at separate fruit packing locations over the summer, where social distancing and masking violations were found. The company told L&I the masks made fruit packers hot to the point they were passing out.

"COVID-19 is a serious workplace hazard and we expect employers to treat it that way," said Craig Blackwood, acting assistant director for L&Is Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

"Mask and distancing requirements are not voluntary," added Blackwood. "They are meant to prevent the spread of COVID in the workplace, but they won't work if they're not used. Evans Fruit Company's blatant disregard for the rules threatens employee health and safety."

In 2020, L&I inspected 422 agriculture businesses and found 517 violations, 204 of those being serious. Not following COVID-19 protocols made up 60 percent of the violations.

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