In California, farmworkers face extreme heat while working in fields. Many wear protective clothing to shield themselves from the sun and plants. Employers like Jose Chavez strive to prevent heat-related illnesses by ensuring sufficient water and shade breaks. However, the effectiveness of California's heat safety law remains questionable after two decades, with failures in enforcement leading to ongoing health risks. Advocates point out that workers continue to suffer and die from preventable conditions, prompting concerns among lawmakers about the law's enforcement mechanisms.
"We learned from that. When you start taking people to the hospital, it's not fun." - Jose Chavez reflects on the serious repercussions of heat illness among workers.
"It's failing because of a lack of enforcement. It's not doing what it was intended to do... People are dying." - State Senator Dave Cortese on the heat safety law.
"The California state auditor blasted the California Department of Occupational Health and Safety, finding, among other problems, that the agency's inspectors failed to take proper actions."
"20 years after California enacted a landmark heat safety law, farmworkers across the state are still getting sick and sometimes dying from preventable heat illness."
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