Aquity4All Agricultural Workers Program

"We should be protecting workers from hazardous conditions, and we will," President Joe Biden said recently as extreme temperatures are felt nationwide...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration plans to increase the enforcement and inspections of heat-safety violations, as well as increase education so crews know their rights and protection against possible retaliation."

Federal government announces new protections to keep outdoor workers safe from heat dangers President Joe Biden said that heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer and announced new protections are coming to keep workers safe.

Impossible Subjects by Mae M. Ngai is an eye-opening exploration of how national-origin and numerical quotas reshaped America and created new categories of racial difference. Available in paperback & ebook (now 30% off with code PUP30). https://hubs.ly/Q01M671J0

The Keystone Health Agricultural Worker Program is creating a new mobile clinic to help migrant farmworkers throughout Adams County...

“The plan is to reach the underserved migrant and seasonal farmworkers of Adams County,” Meckley said. “These workers are essential to the economy of Adams County, especially the orchard industry.”

Since many migrant workers “do not have their own transportation,” Meckley said the program hopes to bring a unit “to farms, orchards, and agricultural workplaces.”

The program also hopes to operate a van to assist with dental needs, said Meckley.

“The majority of the workers have limited access to a dentist and dental complaints pose serious threats to general health and quality of life,” Meckley said...

New mobile clinic to assist migrant farmworkers The Keystone Health Agricultural Worker Program is creating a new mobile clinic to help migrant farmworkers throughout Adams County.

"Current and former farmworkers, allies and religious leaders are marching across a large swath of Florida.

They are calling on retail food giants like Wendy’s, Publix and Kroger to join the Fair Food Program, a human-rights initiative that many of their competitors joined over a decade ago."

Over 100 start march across Florida to protest modern slavery in the agricultural fields For more than a decade the Coalition of Immokalee Workers have been trying to entice giant retailers to join the Fair Food Program. Wendy's, Publix and Kroger have been hold-outs.

"Most of the stories in this book are from people from Mexico, especially Tabasco, and Chiapas, and a few people from Guatemala"

The life of an immigrant dairy farmworker as a graphic novel A new book uses the graphic novel genre to tell the stories of workers on Vermont dairy farms who are in the country illegally. The details of their lives are rarely told because, for the most part, they have to remain on the farms, in the shadows, for...

What to know Wednesday: Yesterday, March 21st, was National Agriculture Day. On behalf of Farmworker Justice, we’d like to thank you, farmworkers, for all that you have done for us and what you continue to do. You are the reason we do what we do.

Without proper safety measures, heat can be dangerous to any worker - outdoors or indoors, including in vehicles, and in any season. Despite being preventable, heat illness is a widespread issue and often goes unreported. Every year, thousands of workers suffer from heat exposure in the workplace. To combat this, employers can take proactive measures on high-priority days, such as providing regular breaks for water, rest, and shade, training workers to recognize symptoms of heat-related illnesses, and monitoring workers' heat exposure periodically. By implementing these interventions, we can better protect workers from the dangers of heat exposure.

“While agricultural and construction workers often come to mind first when thinking about workers most exposed to heat hazards, without proper safety actions, sun protection and climate-control, intense heat can be harmful to a wide variety of workers indoors or outdoors and during any season,” Jim Frederick, acting assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, said in the release...

“While heat illness is largely preventable, and commonly underreported, thousands of workers are sickened each year by workplace heat exposure...

“Employers are encouraged to implement intervention methods on heat priority days proactively, including regularly taking breaks for water, rest, shade; training workers on how to identify common symptoms and what to do when a worker suspects a heat-related illness is occurring; and taking periodic measurements to determine workers’ heat exposure.”

Rulemaking and emphasis program part of OSHA’s plans for preventing heat illnesses Washington — OSHA is initiating a multipronged approach to protecting workers from extreme heat exposure, both outdoors and indoors, the agency has announced.

Sitting in his studio apartment in Sonoma County, the 63-year-old says that after years of cleaning, pruning and harvesting fields by hand, his wrists are becoming arthritic, and his lower back hurts. Over the years, Salazar has paid automatic payroll taxes into Social Security. But like millions of other undocumented workers, he typically used a number that wasn't his own.

That means that Salazar will never get Social Security benefits. Unauthorized workers contributed roughly $13 billion to that fund in a single year, according to the Social Security Administration's most recent estimates.

Without retirement options, many undocumented farmworkers keep working into old age Thousands of undocumented farmworkers in California are reaching retirement age. But many need to continue working because they don't have access to retirement benefits such as Social Security.

"Part of the issue is that you have these big-name companies like Hyundai and General Mills, and then they use these subcontractors and these subcontractors then use staffing agencies to make their hires. And so it seems like everything is being outsourced, and that makes it easier for companies to pass the buck."

Hundreds of migrant children work long hours in jobs that violate child labor laws Hundreds of migrant children in the U.S. are working long hours and in dangerous jobs. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Brandeis University professor David Weil about why this is happening.

We wanted to make you aware of the upcoming the Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week on March 27 – March 31, 2023, hosted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS), and Grain Handling Safety Coalition (GHSC) National Alliance, in conjunction with OSHA Region V, Ohio OSHA On-Site Consultation, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, Ohio State University Ag Safety, and Ohio Agribusiness Association.

Registration for event and the virtual training events being held throughout the week can be found at Eventbrite Registration- Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week.


Resources, including a Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Poster (English/Spanish), are available for planning and promoting an event. https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA4113.pdf


For additional information please visit StandUp4GrainSafety.org, or if you have questions about the event please contact Ann Grevenkamp ([email protected]).

OSHA will soon be able to issue certifications in support of T and U nonimmigrant status visas, a move the agency contends will aid in some workplace safety investigations.

“T visas” are for victims of human trafficking. “U visas” are for victims of certain crimes, including felonious assault, extortion, forced labor and obstruction of justice. These visas “provide immigration status to noncitizen victims and allow them to remain in the United States to assist authorities in combating human trafficking and other crimes,” OSHA says in a Feb. 13 press release.

The agency’s new authority is scheduled to go into effect March 30.

“Workers in the United States need to feel empowered and able to trust OSHA and the U.S. Department of Labor enough to voice their concerns about workplace safety regardless of their immigration status and fears of retaliation,” OSHA administrator Doug Parker said in the release. “By enabling OSHA to issue U and T visa certifications, we will be empowering some of our economy’s most vulnerable workers to tell us if their jobs are jeopardizing their safety and health, and that of their co-workers, and to support our enforcement efforts.”

OSHA says its new authority to issue nonimmigrant status visas will aid investigations Washington — OSHA will soon be able to issue certifications in support of T and U nonimmigrant status visas, a move the agency contends will aid in some workplace safety investigations.

The National Academies of Medicine recommends that women drink six to nine cups of fluids a day. For men, it’s eight to 12. Here are some tips from NIOSH for staying hydrated, even while working a full day:

Drink before you feel thirsty. If you’re thirsty, you’re already behind on fluid replacement.
Working in the heat? Drink 8 ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes …
But don’t drink more than 48 ounces in an hour. “Drinking too much water or other fluids (sports drinks, energy drinks, etc.) can cause a medical emergency because the concentration of salt in the blood becomes too low,” NIOSH says.
Choose water. Energy drinks and sports drinks have a lot of sugar, and they may raise your caffeine levels so high it affects your heart. Alcohol can actually dehydrate you.
Drink at shorter intervals. It’s more effective than infrequently drinking large amounts.

Hydrate for good health Want to live a longer and healthier life? Stay well-hydrated, say researchers from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

7 tips for safe use of ladders From 2017 to 2021, ladder-related incidents accounted for more than 800 deaths and 27,000 nonfatal injuries resulting in days away from work. “Ladders are safety equipment, not just a throwaway tool,” one expert says.

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/23641-epa-proposal-aimed-at-reinstating-worker-protections-from-pesticides

EPA classifies the application exclusion zone as “the area surrounding the application that must be free of all persons, other than appropriately trained and equipped handlers, during pesticide applications.”

Under the proposal, EPA would reinstate provisions including:

Applying the AEZ beyond an establishment’s boundaries and when workers are within easements, such as for utility workers to access telephone lines.
Establishing AEZ distances for ground-based spray applications of 25 feet for medium or larger sprays when sprayed from a height greater than 12 inches from the soil surface or planting medium, and 100 feet for fine sprays.

EPA aims to reinstall worker protections from pesticides Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is requesting public comment on a proposed rule that would retain various pesticide application exclusion zone requirements amended but not implemented as part of a previous agency final rule currently under a court-ordered stay.

"For nearly two weeks, it was too wet and windy to safely prune the pinot noir vines at the estate vineyard where he worked. Even still, he risked the roads to drive over there during lulls in the storms, just in case. “The storms were ugly,” he said. “And still, we had to find a way to survive.”

‘Help us fight’: California farmers ask for more aid after deadly storms Despite a new relief fund in Sonoma county, farm workers face economic catastrophe when storms and fires strike

"In the wake of the shooting, officials who toured the farms’ housing conditions said they found shacks, trailers, and shipping containers with no insulation or running water. County Supervisor Ray Mueller said families were living in “heartbreaking” and “deplorable” conditions."

San Mateo County launches task force to improve living conditions for farmworkers After the murders of seven farmworkers in Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County created a new task force to help migrant workers who are “living in the shadows,” county supervisors said.

Mayo Clinic expert explains why getting the COVID-19 vaccine is more important than ever Vaccine drugmaker Pfizer says its studies show three doses of its COVID-19 vaccine neutralized the omicron variant while two doses reduced severity."These ar...

"With rapid social change and societal uncertainty, brought on by events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, public health leaders are seeing an ever-increasing need for interventions that address health inequalities, mental illness, loneliness, and isolation. The evidence indicates that these are areas where arts and culture can have a positive effect...To unlock this potential, WHO advocates for an intersectoral approach, arguing that “stronger pathways between the arts, health and social care can provide creative solutions to help to achieve the Health 2020 targets and the Sustainable Development Goals. WHO recommends that action is targeted towards ensuring equity of access to arts and culture, training for health and arts practitioners, and identifying specific public health areas for collaboration."

The arts in public health policy: progress and opportunities There is a growing body of evidence indicating the arts have a role to play in promoting good health and preventing and managing illness. WHO has called for governments to take an intersectoral approach, both within and across traditional areas of policy, to realise the potential of the arts for pub...

"Getting COVID-19 a second time doubles a person’s chance of dying and triples the likelihood of being hospitalized, a new study found."

Repeat COVID Infection Doubles the Risk of Death Getting COVID-19 a second time doubles a person’s chance of dying and triples the likelihood of being hospitalized, a new study found. Vaccination and booster status did not improve survival or hospitalization rates among people who were infected more than once.

Something for PA to consider:

"Financial assistance exists for farmers who want to build new housing on their properties through a tax credit from Oregon Housing and Community Services. But growers who testified at task force meetings observed that it also costs money to maintain their housing units and keep them compliant.

The new grant program, called Funding Agriculture: Residence Modernization, or FARM, would be administered and managed by Oregon Housing and Community Services. Funds could be used for infrastructure improvements that bring existing housing up to OSHA standards, or to help offset operating costs or improvements, according to the memo."

Task force offers recommendations to improve Oregon's agricultural housing A task force commissioned by Gov. Brown to address issues and solutions in agricultural housing submitted recommendations to the Governor’s Office.

"Pesticide exposure causes sneezing and airway inflammation as immediate symptoms,” said Snipes. “The farmworkers refer to this phenomenon as ‘allergias.’ In formal English or Spanish, an allergy is an immune response that is distinct from the body’s reaction to an exposure. But among farmworkers, this response is commonly referred to as an allergy to the pesticides themselves, so that is how we describe it in the app. This is not a misunderstanding on the farmworkers part; they use the word differently...

Snipes and her collaborators are working to keep farmworkers safe is in the development a multi-part intervention to promote the use of PPE among migrant farmworkers. The researchers identified and provided effective PPE that would not impede work. Then, they designed a smartphone app that both promoted the use of PPE and helped the researchers understand reasons people might choose to not wear protective equipment.

To identify practical and functional PPE, the researchers formed focus groups of farmworkers. The groups identified gloves that would not diminish touch sensitivity too severely for someone who was handling delicate crops. They found protective eyewear that did not fog up, selected lightweight shirts with vents to relieve heat, and chose clothing that was slim-fitting and, therefore, not a hazard near heavy machinery.

Once the researchers had identified functional PPE, they developed a smartphone app to encourage farmworkers to wear the PPE. The app was available in English or Spanish and distributed to a group of migrant farmworkers who agreed to participate in the study. In the morning, the app reminded people to wear their PPE. After work, it asked farmworkers if they wore their PPE that day. The app provided tailored messages designed to encourage PPE use on subsequent days based on participants’ responses.

Language, culture, and pesticides: how to protect farmworkers Farmworkers in the United States are exposed to pesticides, machinery, and other potential hazards. Researchers are working to provide the protective equipment and the health literacy needed to improve farmworkers’ well-being.

"Amy Snipes associate professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State, has spent years doing research as a participant-observer farmworker, taking on the labor of the fields firsthand. She has been thinking about, working with, and working for farmworkers since she visited a farm in graduate school.

“A clear hierarchy based on farmworker’s immigration status, English language skills, and indigeneity was immediately visible,” said Snipes. “For example, the darkest-skinned workers — mostly Indigenous people — performed the most dangerous work, picking up the berries that were left behind by the harvesting machine. I saw hazardous work being distributed in ways that were unjust. I wanted to know more, and I wanted to do something once I began to understand the dynamics at play.”

"White workers experienced a death rate of 3.3 per 100,000 workers, compared to Black workers’ rate of 3.5, and to Hispanic or Latino workers’ even higher death rate of 4.5."

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/fatality-rates-from-occupational-safety-2818997/

"White workers experienced a death rate of 3.3 per 100,000 workers, compared to Black workers’ rate of 3.5, and to Hispanic or Latino workers’ even higher death rate of 4.5."

Fatality Rates from Occupational Safety and Health Hazards Higher Among Minorities | JD Supra Seyfarth Synopsis: Recent data continues to show material disparities in serious injury and fatality rates among employees of differing races or...

“Unfortunately, farmworkers do not have many protections. It’s something that happens across the nation except for the usual states like California, Oregon, New York, Washington — that do offer more protections,” Gago said. “It’s sad to see that farmworkers don’t have the right to minimum wage, overtime. They don’t have the right to unionize or protect themselves.”

https://vpm.org/news/articles/37570/migrant-workers-reveal-their-virginia-farming-experiences

"The finding fits within other research which has found that, historically, Black and Latino workers - especially in the South - see higher rates of occupational death than white workers.

“There is evidence in the literature that one explanation for these inequities is structural segregation of employment, where the riskiest jobs are done by Black or Latino/a workers,” lead researcher Morgan Richey explained in an email. “Other evidence points at economic factors — for example, not all workers can refuse overtime requests, or a dangerous assignment, and be ready to find a new job if their supervisor insists. Other work focuses on the behavior of employers: do they provide quality [personal protective equipment] that fits, good training, and enforce safety protocols?”

Study finds Latino workers die of occupational injuries at higher rates than other groups Latino workers die of occupational injuries more often than other racial and ethnic groups according to a recent study and state OSHA data.