Cal/OSHA finds Safeway exposed workers to hazardous conditions at its largest warehouse in Tracy
Oakland—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.
What Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee said: “It is critical that employers recognize the physical demands and potential dangers faced by warehouse workers and take measures to protect their safety. Our inspection revealed that Safeway’s demanding warehouse quotas put its workers at risk of serious injury.”
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.
About Cal/OSHA
Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers and workers who have questions or need assistance with workplace health and safety programs can call Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch at 800-963-9424.
Workers in California are protected regardless of immigration status. Workers who have questions about safety and health in the workplace can call 833-579-0927 to speak with a live bilingual Cal/OSHA representative between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Complaints about workplace safety and health hazards can be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.
Media Contact: Communications@dir.ca.gov, (510) 286-1161