In 2019, Westward Seafoods reported 60 accidents to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.¹ Among the accidents, 59 were injuries, and one was a skin disorder. A total of 31 of the injured workers needed to take time off to recover, spending a collective total of 794 days away from work. Of the accidents, 13 led to workers temporarily being either restricted from their work or transferred to a new job while they recovered, spending a total of 426 days away from their work. The number of accidents at Westward exceeded the national average for accidents and resulting time off for injured workers.

In 2020, Westward Seafoods reported 30 accidents to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.² Among the accidents, 26 were injuries, one accident led to respiratory conditions for that worker, and three workers suffered hearing loss due to occupational exposure. A total of 15 workers needed to take time off, accounting for 70 days of absence. Nine of the accidents led to workers temporarily being either restricted from their work or transferred to a new job while they recovered, spending a total of 192 days away from their work. These accidents generally exceeded the national average for accidents and resulting time off for injured workers among fish processing workers in 2020.³

In 2021, Westward Seafoods reported 57 injuries and one skin disorder to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.⁴ Among the injured, 33 workers needed time off work to recover, taking a total of 212 days. Nine of the workers were temporarily restricted from their work or transferred to a new job while they recovered, spending a total of 215 days away from their work. These accidents far exceeded the national average for accidents and resulting time off for injured workers among fish processing workers in 2021.⁵

In 2022, Westward Seafoods reported 29 injuries and one skin disorder to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.⁶ Records indicate that 18 of the workers involved needed time off work to recover, taking a total of 89 days. Four of the workers were temporarily restricted from their work or transferred to a new job while they recovered, spending a total of 37 days away from their work.

In 2023, Westward Seafoods reported 24 injuries, one respiratory condition, and four instances of hearing loss due to occupational exposure to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.⁷ The injuries reported included three employees who suffered second-degree burns, three hand lacerations, one employee who was unable to work for 56 days after fracturing his left wrist while loading surimi pans, and another who suffered corneal abrasions after “blood and guts splashed into” both his eyes while gutting black cod.⁸ Among the injured workers, 11 took a total of 124 days away from work to recover, and three employees needed to be transferred or restricted from their jobs for a total of 50 days cumulatively.⁹

In 2024, Westward Seafoods reported 41 accidents to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.¹⁰ Among the accidents, 34 were injuries, and seven workers suffered hearing loss due to occupational exposure. At least 13 of the affected workers needed to take time off to recover, spending a collective total of 175 days away from work. At least 11 of the accidents led to workers temporarily being either restricted from their work or transferred to a new job while they recovered, spending a total of 175 days away from their work.¹¹

Former staff members at Westward Seafoods have reported poor working conditions and a disregard for the health of employees. One reviewer commented in 2021 that Westward Seafoods “drives them like slaves and then if you get injured they either don’t take it seriously or they take forever to take care of anything.”¹² Another simply said, “I consider this company one of the most heinous employers in the United States.”¹³ In 2025, a Reddit user harshly criticized Westward Seafoods, describing it as having unsafe and degrading working conditions, frequent worker injuries, and a blame culture that holds employees—not the company—accountable. “Aside from the place having a permastank that is impossible to get rid of and it being difficult to breathe in the building due to the smell, there is a section on the wall in front of the main office where they post all the injuries that have happened in the last month or week or what have you,” the user wrote. They suggested seeking work elsewhere, such as at local fuel docks, where treatment and pay were reportedly better. Another user recounted that their brother returned from a season at the company with lasting back problems and emotional trauma, saying no amount of pay could justify the experience.¹⁴ Indeed reviews of Westward Seafoods cite favoritism, inconsistent work hours, poor treatment of injured workers, and substandard food. While some acknowledge the potential to earn good money, they also warn of harsh conditions, lack of support, and feeling trapped during injury claims.¹⁵

Westward Seafoods did not respond to a request for comment.¹⁶