FA R M
L A B O R
I N F O R M AT I O N
B U L L E T I N
Voice of the Fields California
October 2018
FREE
Volume 28, Number 10
Pesticides and Farmworkers
A
GROWING NUMBER of US consumers have reduced their consumption of produce grown with pesticides to protect their family’s health. Despite increased demand for food grown without pesticides, conventional growing practices dominate agriculture production. Little is being done to protect the farmworkers who are routinely exposed to high levels of toxic pesticides in the fields where they work and in the communities where they live. They can be exposed at levels hundreds of times greater than consumers’ exposures to pesticides.
Pesticides pose risks of short- and long- term illness to farmworkers and their families. Short-term (acute) effects may include stinging eyes, rashes, blisters, blindness, nausea, dizziness, headaches, coma, and even death. Some long-term health impacts are delayed or not immediately apparent such as, infertility, birth defects, endocrine disruption, neurological disorders, and cancer. Workers who mix, load or apply pesticides (known as pesticide handlers) can be exposed to toxic pesticides due to spills and splashes, defective, missing or inadequate protective equipment, direct spray, or drift. Workers who perform hand labor tasks in areas that have been treated with pesticides face exposure from direct spray, drift or contact with pesticide resi-
pesticides have recently been applied; breathing in pesticide “drift” from adjoining or nearby fields; working in a pesticide-treated field without appropriate PPE; eating with pesticidecontaminated hands; eating contaminated fruits and vegetables; and eating in a pesticide-contaminated field. Workers may also be exposed to pesticides if they drink from, wash their hands, or bathe in irrigation canals or holding ponds, where pesticides can accumulate.
Pesticide Exposure
dues on the crop or soil. Pesticides can present a hazard to applicators, to harvesters reentering a sprayed field, to family members due to take-home contamination, and to rural residents via air, ground water and food. Workers may be exposed to pesticides in a variety of ways, including: working in a field where
On December 21, 2012, a crop duster sprayed pesticides over 40 farmworkers working in a Yuma, Arizona farm field. Firefighters responding to the incident decontaminated the workers by having them remove their clothes in the cold night air and sprayed them with a fire hose. The workers complained of irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. Ten workers were treated at a local hospital. Sadly, incidents like these are not uncommon because farmworkers are not afforded adequate workplace protections from pesticide exposure. Continued on next page
While these cases are noteworthy for their attention in the news media, many more incidents go unreported in the press and even to appropriate authorities. Pesticide exposure causes farmworkers to suffer more chemical-
related injuries and illnesses than any other workforce nationwide. Occupational exposure to pesticides poisons as many as 20,000 farmworkers every year, according to estimates by the EPA. The numbers are likely much higher. Several factors con-
Signs of Pesticide Poisoning
tribute to the underestimation of the problem, including the inability and apprehension of affected workers to get medical care, medical misdiagnosis, and the absence of a coordinated national incident reporting system. Farmworkers are exposed to
Poision Absorbption Sites Palm of Hand: 6x
Head & Eyes
headaches, vision problems, small pupils in the eyes, tears
Nose & Mouth
Forearm: 7x (ventral side)
Forehead: 43x
runny nose, drooling
Chest & Lungs
Scalp: 25x Jaw: 93x
Pin-point Pupils
Armpit: 26x
Back:12x
pain, breathing problems
Stomach
pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting
Arms & Legs muscle cramps or pains, twitching
Skin
itching, rashes, bumps, redness, blisters, burning, sweating too much
Forearm: 8x
Hands
(dorsal side)
damage to fingernails, rashes, numbness and tingling in the fingers
Scrotum: 300x
Other general signs of pestiside poisoning are
confusion, weakness, trouble walking, trouble concentrating, muscle twitching, restlessness and anxiety, bad dreams and trouble sleeping Some parts of the body that are especially susceptible are the forehead (43x), the armpits (26x), the jaw (93x), and the scrotum (300x). For example, if the same amount of pesticide were to fall on the forehead and foot, the pesticide could enter the body 43 times faster through the forehead.
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Ankle: 3x
Arch of Foot: 1x
pesticides in a variety of ways. Workers who perform hand labor tasks in treated areas risk exposure from direct spray, aerial drift, or contact with pesticide residues on the crop or soil. Workers who mix, load, or apply pesticides can be exposed to
Signs of Exposure Headache Fatigue Dizziness Diarrhea Confusion Excessive Sweating Excessive Salivation Contracted Pupils Slowed Heartbeat Loss of Coordination Loss of Appetite and Nausea Blurred Vision and Excessive Tearing Central Nervous System Depression These symptoms may be mistaken for those of flu, heat stroke or heat exhaustion, or upset stomach. As with all pesticide exposure time is extremely sensitive. If a pesticide is swallowed or you feel you have these symptoms seek immediate medical care.
pesticides due to spills, splashes, and defective, missing or inadequate protective equipment. Even when not working in the fields, farmworker families, especially children, are also at risk of elevated pesticide exposure. Workers bring pesticides into their homes in the form of residues on their tools, clothes, shoes, and skin. They inadvertently expose their children through a hug if they cannot shower after work. The close proximity of agricultural fields to residential areas results in aerial drift of pesticides into farmworkers’ homes, schools, and playgrounds. Some schoolyards are directly adjacent to fields of crops that are sprayed with pesticides. Pesticide exposure is an unavoidable reality for farmworkers and their families because pesticides are in the air they breathe, the water they drink, the food they eat, and the soil they cultivate.
regulation for agricultural pesticides, which is aimed at reducing the risk of pesticide poisonings and injuries among agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. The WPS protects employees on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses from occupational exposure to agricultural pesticides. Administered by the EPA, the WPS contains requirements for safety measures such as pesticide safety training for farmworkers, notification of pesticide applications, and emergency medical assistance.
Worker Protection Standards on Pesticide Safety
PESTICIDE HANDLERS: those who mix, load, or apply agricultural pesticides; clean or repair pesticide application equipment; or assist with the application of pesticides in any way.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees pesticide use through the Worker Protection Standards (WPS). The WPS is a Sources: www.farmworkerjustice.org/resources www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/case-pesticide-poisoning www.osha.gov/dsg/topics/agriculturaloperations/hazards_controls.html
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Who is covered by the WPS? The WPS requires owners and employers on agricultural establishments and commercial pesticide handling establishments to protect employees on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses from occupational exposure to agricultural pesticides. The regulation covers two types of workers:
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS: those who perform tasks related to the cultivation and harvesting of plants on farms or in greenhouses, nurseries, or forests. Workers Continued on next page
include anyone employed for any type of compensation (including self-employed) doing tasks—such as carrying nursery stock, repotting plants, or watering—related to the production of agricultural plants on an agricultural establishment. Workers do not include office employees, truck drivers, mechanics, and any others not engaged in handling, cultivation, or harvesting activities. The WPS contains requirements for pesticide safety training, notification of pesticide applications, use of personal protective equipment, and restricted-entry intervals after pesticide application, decontamination supplies, and emergency medical assistance.
Chemicals must be properly labeled so farmworkers know the identity and hazards of the chemicals they may be exposed to at work. OSHA information helps employers and workers ensure that hazard communication is properly addressed in their workplaces. In addition, certain OSHA standards address hazard communications. Pesticides covered under Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) are exempt from the OSHA labeling requirements since EPA regulates these labels. The FIFRA is a United States federal law that set up the basic U.S. system of pesticide regulation to protect applicators, consumers, and the environment. To find out more information visit their website at www. osha.gov or call 1(800) 321-6742.
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What Does the WPS Require? The requirements in the WPS are intended to inform workers and handlers about pesticide safety, provide protections from potential exposure to pesticides, and mitigate exposures that do occur.
Inform n
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Pesticide safety training for workers and handlers. Access to specific information for workers and handlers, including: pesticide applications on the establishment; safety data sheets for pesticides applied on the establishment; and pesticide safety information
a pesticide label, provide the handler with a medical evaluation, fit test and respirator training.
Mitigate Decontamination supplies including a sufficient supply of water, soap and towels for routine washing and emergency decontamination and eyewash systems for certain handlers. n Emergency assistance by making transportation available to a medical care facility in case of a pesticide injury or poisoning, and providing information about the pesticide(s) to which the person may have been exposed. For information on how to handle a pesticide poisoning, call the National Pesticide Information Center at 1(800) 858-7378 or call Poison Control Center at 1(800) 222-1222. n
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(poster) that includes emergency information. Access to labeling information for pesticide handlers and early-entry workers. Notify workers about pesticidetreated areas so they can avoid inadvertent exposures. Information exchange between agricultural employers and commercial pesticide handler employers.
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Protect n
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Keep workers and other people out of areas being treated with pesticides. Keep workers and other people away from pesticide application equipment (out of the application exclusion zones) during applications.
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Handlers suspend applications if workers or people are near pesticide application equipment (in the application exclusion zone) during applications. Keep workers out of areas that are under a restricted-entry interval (REI), with a few narrow exceptions. Protect early-entry workers who are doing permitted tasks in pesticide-treated areas during an REI, including special instructions and duties related to correct use of personal protective equipment. Monitor handlers using highly toxic pesticides. Provide and maintain required personal protective equipment to handlers. If a respirator is required by
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Other Resources U.S. Department of Labor: Occupational Safety and Health Administration: 1(800) 321-6742 or visit the website at www.osha.gov.
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Agricultural Jobs available to U.S. workers under H-2A contract
You may apply for these jobs by phone or in person at your nearest Employment Development Department (EDD) field office Job Number
Job Title
Crop/ Livestock
Pay Rate
Start Date
End Date
Positions
County
America’s Job Centers of California (AJCC)
16153000
Farmworker Laborer
Iceberg lettuce
$13.18/hr.
10/24/18
11/17/18
100
Fresno
Fresno AJCC 559-230-3600
15998088
Farmworker Laborer
Pear trees, grape vines
$13.18/hr.
07/21/18
03/30/19
60
Lake
Lakeport 707-263-0630
16123565
Farmworker Laborer
Citrus, peach and date harvest
$13.18/hr.
10/1/18
1/31/19
75
Imperial, Riverside
El Centro 760-339-2722
16218771
Farmworker Laborer
Mixed lettuce, broccoliu, cauliflower
$13.18/hr.
11/05/18
04/06/19
610
Imperial County, CA; Yuma County, AZ
El Centro 760-339-2722
Various
Beekeepers
Bees
$13.18/hr.
Continuous
Continuous
Various
California and Western States
Call your local AJCC or dial 1-916-654-7799 to find your nearest office
Various
Herders
Sheep
$1866.88/ monthly
Continuous
Continuous
Various
California and Western States
Call your local AJCC or dial 1-916-654-7799 to find your nearest office
The H-2A temporary agricultural program allows agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring nonimmigrant foreign workers to the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature. The H-2A employers must demonstrate that qualified U.S. workers are not available for the job and the employment of temporary foreign workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers similarly employed. Preference in hiring will be given to qualified U.S. workers before employers are allowed to bring in foreign workers under the program.
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