Pharmaceutical Firm Fined Over Violations of California Labor Laws

Los Angeles, CA The California branch of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) recently fined pharmaceutical firm Baxter Healthcare Corporation for allegedly violating California labor law, which reportedly resulted in a death and injuries to two others.

According to a release from the agency, the fine amounted to $371,250 for 11 citations, including four that were deemed willful citations, suggesting the firm had knowledge of the violations. Baxter reportedly has 15 business days to either appeal or pay the fine.

The allegations and fine reportedly stem from a January 21 incident during which Baxter technician Henry Astilla reportedly collapsed after entering a 6,000 liter tank in which nitrogen was bubbled through plasma, according to the release. With air allegedly being displaced by the nitrogen, the tank became oxygen deficient, which led to the worker's death. Baxter is being accused of not properly testing the tank to make sure there was enough oxygen before sending in the technician.

The investigation conducted by Cal/OSHA also indicated that when Astilla was found, a supervisor allegedly told two other employees to bring him out of the tank, without providing the necessary protection or testing the tank for oxygen levels. The agency claims that this alleged negligence led to the two other employees suffering serious injuries, with one of the workers still in the hospital as of July.

"The hazards of working in confined spaces are well documented and this is a classic example of the kind of injury that occurs when employers fail to adequately protect their employees," Cal/OSHA Chief Ellen Widess said in the release. "When confined space operations are not properly planned, it is unfortunately common for other employees to be injured or killed while attempting impromptu rescue of the initial victim."

In other recent cases, Cal/OSHA is reportedly investigating a number of potential heat-related deaths, including two instances where farm workers allegedly collapsed while harvesting crops, according to The Associated Press.

The news source reports that the agency is investigating whether a 47-year-old Blythe farm worker died while operating a tractor to harvest cantaloupes in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees on July 7.

Cal/OSHA spokeswoman Erika Monterroza told the news source that the agency is also in the process of investigating an April death of an Imperial County farm worker who was reportedly breaking corn in 84-degree heat in April.