Federal inspectors frustrate farm owners

SEATTLE (AP) — Bob Blank’s frustration is evident when he talks about an inspection of his Okanogan County farm by U.S. Department of Labor wage inspectors.

“These people absolutely appeared to be bent on not helping, but fining the farms,” Blank said. “The problem I have with that, in my case, it’s the first time you show up in 35 years, and you tell me ‘fines.’ I’m gonna get [irritated] about that. You’re not working with me. You’re working against me.”

In late June, the inspectors came to his apple and pear orchard in central Washington, surveyed his paperwork and the housing for his two dozen workers.

Even though the state labor department had given his farm a clean bill of health in recent years, the federal inspectors told him he would be fined. Blank, 71, said he became angry and worried when a fellow Okanogan County farmer received a $10,000 fine. In August, he finally got the letter saying he was being penalized for failing to “ensure housing safety and health” and had 30 days to pay the $5,225 fine.

“They don’t tell me specifically what the problem is and no time frame to correct it,” Blank said. “The question arises: Has this really anything to do with safety for workers?”

The number of inspections by the U.S. Department of Labor are expected to increase after President Barack Obama earmarked $30 million in his budget for the department to hire an additional 288 front line wage inspectors nationwide.

The new inspectors are welcomed by labor advocates, but they’re a cautionary development for employers.

Dan Fazio, director of employer services for the Washington Farm Bureau, said the labor department oversteps its authority by inspecting permanent housing and too readily gives out fines.