PA meatpacking workers have been trying for months to get OSHA to take action on the lack of COVID-1

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bernice yeung
@bmyeung
“I’m scared to go to work everyday....It’s sad and scary. I’m sorry.”

PA meatpacking workers have been trying for months to get OSHA to take action on the lack of COVID-19 safeguards at their plant. Now 3 workers are suing the govt.

https://www.propublica.org/article/they-warned-osha-they-were-in-imminent-danger-at-the-meat-plant-now-theyre-suing-the-agency

They Warned OSHA They Were in “Imminent Danger” at the Meat Plant. Now They’re Suing the Agency.

The suit by workers at Maid-Rite Speciality Foods in Pennsylvania employs a rarely used legal tool and is the latest in a growing chorus of complaints about how the federal agency charged with protecting workers has responded to COVID-19.

Snip
OSHA responded by writing a letter to Maid-Rite, which produces frozen meat products for schools and health care facilities. The agency asked the plant to look into the complaint and report back.

Within a week, the company sent a letter and supporting documents to OSHA, explaining that 6-foot physical distancing wasn’t possible on the production line, but it had given masks to its workers, staggered breaks and done deep cleanings at the facility.

With that, OSHA closed out the case....

The agency instead sent another letter to the company explaining that it did not plan to do an on-site inspection and requesting the plant “immediately investigate the alleged concerns and make any necessary corrections or modifications.” Later, according to the lawsuit, it told the workers’ attorney by phone that it was not treating any COVID-19 complaints as imminent danger complaints.