RAPID CITY, S.D. – Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls has been cited for failing to protect its employees from exposure of COVID-19.
In the citation, the US Department of Labor says the company violated the general duty clause and failed to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that could cause death or serious injury.
“Employers must quickly implement appropriate measures to protect their workers’ safety and health,” said OSHA Sioux Falls Area Director Sheila Stanley. “Employers must meet their obligations and take the necessary actions to prevent the spread of coronavirus at their worksite.”
1,294 Smithfield employees contracted COVID-19 in spring 2020, leading to the deaths of four employees.
