FLORENCE – The state of Oregon has fined a restaurant in Florence nearly $ 18,000 for deliberately exposing employees to COVID-19 following an investigation in which officials say compliance officers are under threat.
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the fine for The New Blue Hen on Tuesday, reports The Register-Guard.
A state investigation has found that the New Blue Hen, which does business as Little Brown Hen Café, has been allowed to eat indoors since at least December 26th.
“The company did so despite knowing it was violating a public health order that limits the ability to eat indoors to zero in a country at extreme risk,” the state news release said.
The restaurant did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Complaints about the restaurant led to an inspection during which, according to the state, ‘several people – including one who has a firearm – blocked the entrance of the business and threatened compliance officers’.
The state appointed two compliance officers and identified themselves during the inspection and asked to speak to the owner, the state said.
The people at the entrance followed them to their cars as they left, officials said.
Inspectors were able to give visual confirmation of the dining room inside.
Michael Wood, administrator of Oregon OSHA, has imposed the $ 17,800 fine, which is twice the minimum fine for an intentional offense to ‘ensure the need for a more appropriate deterrent, where employers insist on public health measures’ ignore’.
The restaurant has 30 days to appeal.
– The Associated Press