Las Vegas: MGM's Aria hotel-casino fined USD 12 K for COVID-19 violations

The Division of Industrial Relations’ Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as OSHA, has imposed a financial penalty on  Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, owned by MGM Resorts, for COVID-19 safety violations last week.

The citation to Aria Resort & Casino was issued after an investigation was initiated as a result of a complaint or referral filed with Nevada OSHA alleging workplace safety hazards, namely, lack of social distancing at point-of-sale terminals used by employees. The financial penalty received amounted to USD 12 K, KTNV reports.

"Aria has been cooperating with Nevada OSHA and plans to contest the citation and penalty because it does not believe it has violated any safety laws," MGM officials said in a statement.

"There is no higher priority than the health and safety of our guests and employees and nothing we take more seriously. Our Seven-Point Safety Plan has clear policies for maintaining safe distances and other important protocols. Our employees are trained extensively and held to high standards. We will continue reinforcing these protocols and keeping them top of mind for employees and guests," MGM added.

Nevada OSHA has issued a total of 177 notices of citation and penalty related to violations of required COVID-19 health and safety measures in effect since mid-March.

In light of increasing COVID-19 infection rates in the state, the Division has modified its enforcement practices in counties that have met at least two out of the following three criteria as identified by the COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Taskforce for elevated disease transmission:

1. The average number of tests per day (per 100,000) <100
2. Cases (per 100,000) >200
3. Cases (per 100,000) >50 and testing positivity > 8.0 percent

In these counties, if violations are observed by OSHA officials during the initial visit to a business establishment, an inspection will be opened with the employer. If the violations can be substantiated during the investigatory process, a citation will be issued. A written notice will also be issued indicating that in the event of future non-compliance, the Administrator may issue an order requiring the business to cease operation at that location during this state of emergency under NRS 618.545 until the business has established and implemented operating procedures to come into compliance.

A follow-up visit will be conducted at cited businesses to verify that the violative conditions cited during the initial visit have been corrected. If the business is in compliance at that time, no additional action will be taken.