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Newsletter
California reduces safety inspections as farmworkers face worsening heat

California reduces safety inspections as farmworkers face worsening heat

California has reduced enforcement of outdoor heat protection laws even as farmworkers endure increasingly extreme temperatures, with inspections by Cal/OSHA dropping nearly 30% since 2017.

Robert J. Lopez reports for Capital & Main.

In short:

  • From 2017 to 2023, Cal/OSHA inspections for outdoor heat safety decreased by almost 30%, with violations issued to employers falling by over 40%.
  • Farmworkers report frequent violations of safety laws, including lack of shade and water, amid ongoing agency staffing shortages.
  • California lawmakers are considering legislation to strengthen enforcement and ensure compensation for heat-related injuries.

Key quote:

“We just need Cal/OSHA to be out there more often and do more inspections that hopefully will save farmworker lives.”

— Ephraim Camacho, community worker for California Rural Legal Assistance

Why this matters:

As climate change drives temperatures higher, vulnerable outdoor workers face increased health risks, and weakened enforcement of heat protection laws puts their lives in greater danger.

Related EHN coverage:

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Newsletter
Floods expose vulnerabilities in homeless communities forced to marginal areas

Floods expose vulnerabilities in homeless communities forced to marginal areas

In Ontario, California, severe floods in November 2022 claimed three lives and highlighted the dangers facing unhoused people living in flood-prone areas due to lack of safer shelter options.

Erin Rode reports for High Country News.

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Newsletter
Increasing workplace deaths from extreme heat prompt new regulations

Increasing workplace deaths from extreme heat prompt new regulations

As extreme heat leads to increasing workplace fatalities, the Biden administration is pushing for new safety regulations, though facing substantial opposition.

Coral Davenport and Noah Weiland report for The New York Times.

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Newsletter
Exploring the potential of genetically engineered crops in agriculture and the environment

Exploring the potential of genetically engineered crops in agriculture and the environment

Researchers argue that genetically engineered crops could significantly reduce carbon emissions, despite widespread skepticism and regulatory challenges.

Shannon Osaka reports for The Washington Post.

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nuclear power plant

Regulators clear Japan's largest nuclear plant for operation, navigating past safety concerns and local hesitations

Japan's nuclear watchdog has lifted the operational ban on Tokyo Electric Power's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, marking a cautious move towards nuclear energy amidst historical safety issues and local apprehensions.

Mari Yamaguchi reports for the Associated Press.

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Newsletter
farm workers

Dying in the fields as temperatures soar

Scores of California farmworkers are dying in the heat in regions with chronically bad air, even in a state with one of the toughest heat standards in the nation.
office environment

UK workers ‘should get day off’ if workplace is hotter than 30C

A maximum indoor temperature working law giving people a day off if workplace temperatures surpass 30C should be mandated by government, a new report recommends.

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