Four JBS Foods USA subsidiaries and affiliates will develop an infectious disease preparedness plan for seven meat processing facilities following the death of seven workers, 51 hospitalizations and 647 confirmed cases after a COVID-19 outbreak at two of the plants in 2020.
The company agreed to form a team with third-party experts to develop and implement an infectious disease preparedness plan for the meat processing facilities in six states to protect JBS Foods workers, according to a May 27 Department of Labor news release.
“Terrible tragedies occurred at JBS facilities in Greeley and Green Bay, and we will ensure that this agreement is in full force to prevent a mass outbreak from happening again,” John Rainwater, the Department of Labor's Regional Solicitor in Dallas, said, according to the release. "“Employers are legally obligated to provide workers with a safe and healthful workplace, and the U.S. Department of Labor is committed to holding employers accountable when they fail to do so"
The settlement is intended to ensure protective measures will protect workers at these facilities from COVID-19 and from other infectious diseases, Jennifer Rous, OSHA's regional administrator in Denver, said, according to the release.
“This settlement will positively impact the safety and health of JBS employees far beyond the two facilities where these inspections occurred,” she said, according to the release.
