Federal inspectors found more than two dozen safety hazards at immigrant sweatshops in New York City. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration discovered fire, electrical, respiratory and sanitary hazards at HotHead Grabba locations in Brooklyn and Queens.
The company packages tubes of loose ground tobacco leaves sold at smoke shops and bodegas.
Ten of the violations were marked as “serious,” which “could cause an accident or illness that would most likely result in death or serious physical harm.”
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The factories also failed to provide personal protective equipment like gloves, causing employees’ bare hands to be exposed to nicotine.
All of the violations totaled $91,141.
The investigation started back in March after four women who worked at the Brooklyn location told “The City” they had major health issues from working 13 hour days, six days a week.
The women also told the New York State Department of Labor in a complaint that they were paid about $105 a day, which is half the $16 an hour minimum wage.
Two brothers who worked at the Queens factor complained of similar experiences. They told “The City” they were only given surgical masks, which did not help with the strong tobacco smell.
They ended up quitting a month later.
OSHA’s investigations into both Hothead Grabba facilities are ongoing.
The company can settle or appeal the citations and has yet to comment on the violations.
