Oregon restaurant fined second time over COVID-19 restrictions

A restaurant in Oregon was fined for a second time for failing to enforce certain COVID-19 restrictions.

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said in a statement on Friday that Casey’s Restaurant in Klamath Falls was fined $27,660 after an inspection revealed that it committed four violations of safety standards.

The inspection was prompted by complaints and a referral from Klamath County Public Health, the agency said.

The inspection revealed that the restaurant “willfully” began allowing indoor dining from Dec. 17, 2020, and remained opened through Feb. 11, 2021, with the exception of Christmas Day.

The agency alleged that Casey’s Restaurant disregarded capacity limits imposed by the Oregon Health Authority for establishments in counties designated as “extreme” risks for the spread of COVID-19. Klamath County was one such area.

Michael Wood, Oregon OSHA administrator, said he imposed a $26,700 fine for the violation after Casey’s Restaurant was previously fined $8,900 in December for remaining open for indoor dining despite a public health order.

Oregon OSHA said that citation is still on appeal.

The restaurant was also fined $490 for failing to conduct a COVID-19 risk assessment to monitor potential employee exposure and $350 for not developing and implementing an infection control plan.

The business was also fined $120 for not establishing and running a safety committee to deal with potential on-the-job hazards.

The restaurant has 30 days to appeal the citations.

The Hill has reached out to Casey’s Restaurant for comment.

According to The Associated Press, the rules on COVID-19 workplace safety are expected to expire May 4. Wood is still undecided about whether to make them permanent or let them expire.