Las Vegas, NV October 12, 2020
Two citations for violations of required COVID-19 workplace health and safety measures were issued last week by the Division of Industrial Relations' Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Agency officials monitor and enforce compliance through in-field observations and through investigations opened in response to complaints and referrals filed with OSHA.
Pho Kietzke
3004 Kietzke Lane, Reno, NV 89502
Penalty: $2603
Violation Summary: Lack of face coverings worn by employees/employer
The citation to Pho Kietzke was issued after officials observed noncompliance with one or more requirements of general and industry-specific guidance and directives during both an initial observation and a follow up visit by division officials. The employer was provided a notice and a request for compliance during the first visit. Upon observation of ongoing noncompliance during a follow up visit, a formal investigation was opened with the employer. The violations were substantiated during the investigation and a notice of citation of penalty was issued.
Dragonridge Country Club
552 S. Stephanie Street, Henderson, NV 89012
Penalty: $10,930
Violation Summary: The business hosted an event at which employees where the 50-person limit of attendees was exceeded, and face coverings were not being worn as required.
The citation to Dragonridge Country Club was issued after an investigation was initiated as a result of a referral filed with Nevada OSHA alleging workplace safety hazards.
Nevada OSHA has issued a total of 171 notices of citation and penalty related to violations of required COVID-19 health and safety measures in effect since mid-March.
Observation Findings: Initial
Since observations began in late-June to determine compliance with mandated health and safety measures under the Governor's Declaration of Emergency Directive 024 and Nevada OSHA's Guidance for Roadmap to Recovery, DIR officials have conducted 9,130 initial visits at business establishments finding a cumulative 89 percent statewide compliance rate, a 90 percent compliance rate in northern Nevada and 87 percent compliance in southern Nevada.
During the week beginning October 5, officials conducted 218 initial visits across the state at a wide range of business sectors finding a 93 percent compliance rate statewide.
Cities with compliance rates below the statewide average of 93 percent last week include:
- Las Vegas- 86 percent
- Sparks- 87 percent
- Minden- 91 percent
- Reno- 91 percent
Carson City, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Crystal Bay, Incline Village and Pahrump had a 100 percent initial observed compliance last week.
Initial compliance rates for business sectors across the state (where 10 or more observations were conducted) during the week beginning October 5 include:
- Financial Institutions, 11 observations- 82 percent
- Other, 23 observations- 83 percent
- Real Estate, 12 observations- 83 percent
- Hair/ Nail/ Tattoo Salons, 16 observations- 94 percent
- General Retail, 38 observations- 95 percent
- Restaurant, 41 observations- 98 percent
- Medical, 23 observations- 100 percent
Observation Findings: Follow Up
Since observations to determine compliance with mandated health and safety measures began, DIR officials have conducted 1,682 follow up visits finding a 95 percent statewide compliance rate with a 97 percent compliance rate in northern Nevada, and 93 percent in the south.
During the week beginning October 5, officials conducted 49 follow up visits finding a 94 percent statewide compliance rate with a 93 percent compliance rate in northern Nevada, and 100 percent in the south.
Complaint Data
In addition to the field observation process, Nevada OSHA continues to respond to complaints and referrals regarding face coverings, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, and other areas of concern related to COVID-19 received by their offices. Of the 3,966 complaints received, 28 percent of the complaints concern general retail followed by 17 percent for restaurants and bars, 7 percent about medical facilities and 6 percent concern casinos and gaming.
The top five zip codes for complaints, to-date, include:
- 89502 (Reno), 209 complaints
- 89109 (Las Vegas), 186 complaints
- 89119 (Las Vegas), 137 complaints
- 89434 (Sparks), 133 complaints
- 89431 (Sparks), 128 complaints
Additional complaint data is available on the Division's observation and complaint data dashboard. A link to the dashboard can be found on the homepage of the Division's website http://dir.nv.gov.
Workplace health and safety complaints can be reported to the Division by filing an online complaint at https://www.osha.gov/pls/osha7/eComplaintForm.html.
Important Information for Employers
The Division's Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS) also offers free consultations to businesses to help them understand and implement the requirements in order to comply with the health and safety guidance and directives for all businesses, and specific requirements for each industry. SCATS can be reached by calling 1-877-4SAFENV.
About the Division of Industrial Relations:
The Nevada Division of Industrial Relations (DIR) is the principal regulatory agency responsible for workplace safety and worker protections in the state of Nevada. Comprised of five sections -Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Workers' Compensation Section, Mechanical Compliance Section, Mine Safety and Training Section, and the Safety Consultation and Training Section - DIR works to protect Nevada's working men and women and provides a broad scope of training and support to the regulated community. For more information please visit http://dir.nv.gov.
About Nevada OSHA:
Nevada OSHA operates as an approved state program as defined by section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and is required by the Act to operate in a manner that is at least as effective as the federal OSHA enforcement program. Operating out of district offices in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada OSHA conducts inspections and investigations intended to identify hazardous conditions which could harm Nevada's workers and enforces state and federal laws protecting the state's workers. From July 2018 to June 2019, Nevada OSHA conducted over 1,060 inspections, issuing an average of 1.4 serious violations per inspection. The Nevada State Plan, at the time of publication of this media release, is funded by a grant of $1,486,600 federal funds, which constitutes 50 percent of the State Plan budget. Fifty percent, or $1,486,600 of the State Plan budget, is financed through non-governmental sources. For more information visit http://dir.nv.gov/OSHA/home.
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