Cal/OSHA issues $276,425 citation for first serious willful heat violations
Sacramento—The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has issued $276,425 in penalties to Parkwood Landscape Maintenance, based in Van Nuys, California, for willfully violating state heat illness prevention regulations. Cal/OSHA, a division of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), determined that the employer deliberately and knowingly failed to follow heat protection requirements, marking its first willful heat violation citation.
What Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee Said: “Employers have a responsibility to protect their workers from the dangers of extreme heat. It is unacceptable for any business to blatantly ignore safety protocols, putting their employees at serious risk. This enforcement action underscores our commitment to holding employers accountable and ensuring safe workplaces across California.”
This investigation began on June 6, 2024, when the Cal/OSHA Van Nuys District Office received a complaint about employees working outdoors without access to water or heat illness training provided by their employer.
The company failed to provide employees with required protections, such as access to water, shaded areas, and proper training on preventing heat-related illnesses. Additionally, they lacked written procedures for addressing work conditions in high temperatures, which often exceeded 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Employees also had to purchase their own drinking water, a breach of California's heat illness prevention standard.
This citation follows a previous violation in 2022, in which the company was cited under Title 8 Section 3395(i) for failing to meet heat safety requirements. Despite being provided with model heat illness prevention procedures, Parkwood Landscape Maintenance did not implement the necessary preventive measures to ensure worker safety.
Cal/OSHA investigates heat-related incidents and complaints of hazards at both indoor and outdoor worksites in industries such as agriculture, landscaping, and construction among others. These investigations ensure compliance with the heat illness prevention standard, the injury and illness prevention standard, and indoor heat illness protections.
Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention special emphasis program includes enforcement of the heat regulation as well as multilingual outreach and training programs for California’s employers and workers. Details on heat illness prevention requirements and training materials are posted on Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention web page and the 99calor.org informational website. A Heat Illness Prevention online tool is also available on Cal/OSHA’s website.
Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from safety and health hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers 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 who have questions about heat illness prevention in indoor and outdoor places of employment can call 833-579-0927 to speak with a Cal/OSHA representative Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Complaints about workplace safety and health hazards can be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.
Cal/OSHA has established the Heat Illness Prevention (HIP) Network, a voluntary partnership aimed at increasing awareness among employers and workers about the importance of preventing heat illness in California and the importance of taking steps to prevent work-related illnesses and fatalities. To join the HIP Network, email HIPNetwork@dir.ca.gov.
Employers with Questions on Requirements May Contact: InfoCons@dir.ca.gov, or call your local Cal/OSHA Consultation Office.
Media Contact: Communications@dir.ca.gov, (510) 286-1161