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Governor: Iowa OSHA acted appropriately on Tyson complaint

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 19th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says Iowa regulators acted appropriately when they declined to inspect a Tyson Foods pork plant in Perry before hundreds of workers tested positive for the coronavirus. Iowa Occupational Safety and Health records show the agency received an April 11 complaint alleging the virus was spreading on the production floor and in the cafeteria. The agency didn’t contact Tyson until April 20 and closed the inquiry April 28 after determining Tyson’s safety efforts at the plant were satisfactory. Iowa OSHA declined to inspect the plant, citing federal guidance at the time that said most coronavirus complaints don’t require on-site visits.