Washington Businesses Fined After 250 Workers Contract Virus in Same Warehouse

Three Washington businesses were fined after workers housed in Thurston County hotels and employed at a Lewis County distribution center got sick with COVID-19, and then walked to the hospital for help and feared they could lose their jobs if they went home sick.

At least one worker was allegedly told to report to work because they had not tested positive for COVID-19 when in fact they had. And, initially no one reportedly notified workers that they’d been exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace.

The Washington Department of Labor & Industries opened several inspections after the agency received a referral from the Thurston County Health Department. As a result, three businesses with employees working at that location — United Natural Foods Inc., Capstone Logistics LLC, and Prime 360 — are facing more than $285,000 in overall fines for knowingly putting their workers at risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Six other businesses in the warehouse were cited for less serious violations including not having COVID-19 plans and not keeping proper records.

At the three companies facing significant fines, inspections reportedly revealed a lack of basic safety procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19. L&I also reportedly found a disregard for the rights of workers to information about their health and exposure to infection.

Roughly one-in-four employees working in the warehouse between July 7 and Oct. 5, 2021 reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. Of the 253 workers who tested positive, five were hospitalized.

Capstone and Prime 360 have appealed the citations and fines. Money from fines is placed in the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, helping injured workers and families of those who have died on the job.