The government should restrict the use of dangerous pesticides on the farm and establish standards that protect farmworkers from heat-related illnesses, said a report by the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) at Vermont Law School on Tuesday. The center said its review of federal and state law found gaps in labor protections that put the health of agricultural workers at risk.
“Farmworkers are largely invisible to most Americans,” said CAFS director Laurie Beyranevand, lead author of the report. Agricultural laborers are the backbone of the food industry, said CAFS, but face larger occupational risks than most workers.
Only California, Minnesota and Washington state have adopted state standards on heat exposure while working, said CAFS in urging a nationwide enforceable standard for heat safety that includes access to shade and water. Federal pesticide laws focus more on the environment and overlook farmworker exposure to the chemicals.
The report, “Essentially Unprotected,” is available here.