Why Some Farm Workers Must Bring Own Water or Go Without

Heat related enforcement efforts recently resulted in the halting of two farming operations with outdoor workers as many regions of California hit triple-digit temperatures. Cal/OSHA urges employers to make sure they are in full compliance with the heat illness prevention standard.  

Operations at Rheingans Farms and Greenfield Inc. were shut down because their workers were reportedly exposed to high heat under circumstances where major violations of the heat illness prevention standard existed the California Department of Industrial Relations reported.  Employers can resume their operations only after Cal/OSHA determines they have implemented all of the protective measures required by California’s heat illness prevention standard.

“For employees working outdoors, exposure to high temperatures without basic protective measures like water, shade breaks, training, and emergency preparedness can be life threatening.  We will not hesitate to stop an employer’s operations when we find this kind of situation,” said Len Welsh, chief of Cal/OSHA. “Whenever temperatures are rising into the 90’s and 100’s, as they have been this week, employers need to make sure they are covering all the bases when it comes to heat illness prevention. 

In 90 degree plus temperature, investigators found Rheingans Farms employees working in a field:

1.       The employer had reportedly provided no water.

2.       Employees had to bring their own water or go without. 

3.       The employer had no heat illness prevention program

4.       The employer had no provision for how to respond in the event an employee became ill from the heat. (WCxKit)

At the Greenfield worksite investigators found:

1.     Employees working in a vegetable field and measured the temperature to be 98 degrees.

2.     The employer reportedly had no shade.

3.     The employer had no heat illness prevention program, no training, and no emergency procedures.

Each of these employers was issued An Order Prohibiting Use (OPU) to halt their operations until they come into full compliance with the heat illness prevention standard. (WCxKit)

Under Gov. Schwarzenegger’s leadership, California became the first state in the nation to develop a safety and health regulation addressing heat illness in 2005. Cal/OSHA issued permanent heat illness prevention regulations to protect outdoor workers in 2006.

Editor’s Note:  Readers may want to review these related blogs.

 

 
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