The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has issued $276,425 in penalties to a Van Nuys landscape maintenance company for willfully violating state heat illness prevention regulations. Cal/OSHA determined that the employer deliberately and knowingly failed to follow heat protection requirements. This marks the agency’s first willful heat violation citation in more than five years. 

According to Cal/OSHA, “This enforcement action underscores our commitment to holding employers accountable and ensuring safe workplaces across California.”  

Cal/OSHA’s investigation began on June 6, 2024, when its local office received a complaint about employees working outdoors without access to water or heat illness training provided by their employer. 

The investigation found that the company had failed to provide employees with required protections, such as access to water, shaded areas, and proper training on preventing heat-related illnesses.  

Additionally, the company failed to maintain written procedures for addressing work conditions in high temperatures, which often exceeded 95° Fahrenheit.  

The employer was also previously cited for violations in 2022, for failing to meet heat safety requirements. Despite being provided with model heat illness prevention procedures, the employer failed to implement the necessary preventive measures to ensure worker safety. 

All employers have a duty to control the risk of heat illness in places of employment. 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.