California revises policy to protect workers from heat-related injuries

http://ufw.org/Better-enforcement-of-farm-worker-heat-rules-as-UFW-and-Brown-administration-settle-lawsuit/

 Specific changes that result from the settlement include:

               • Cal/OSHA has revised its policies and procedures with the goal of, among other things, completing inspections more quickly and taking action more effectively against serious, willful and repeat violators of the heat standards.

               • All state inspectors will focus on outdoor workplaces, including agriculture, during periods of high heat when there is the greatest risk to farm and other outdoor workers.

               • The UFW and UFW Foundation will report and refer potential violations of the heat regulations to Cal/OSHA, with clear guidelines on how the agency will respond.

               • Confidential internal audits of Cal/OSHA heat enforcement will help determine whether, among other things, there are timely investigations of complaints, repeat violators are being targeted for more attention, and inspectors are properly reaching out to complainants.

               • Under a pilot project, investigators will take formal declarations from workers in the field during heat inspections to be used in hearings when employers contest complaints months later and migrant and seasonal workers have left the company or the area.