Programs: Environmental Health
Farmworkers are on the frontlines of extreme weather events. They spend most of their days outside, putting them at greater risk from environmental work hazards like prolonged exposure to heat, wildfire smoke, and pesticides. Farmworker Justice partners with community-based organizations to develop resources and trainings for farmworkers on how to protect themselves and stay safe and healthy at work.
HEAT SAFETY TRAINING PROJECT
Farmworkers are 35 times more likely to die from heat-related illness than other workers. Farmworker Justice created a heat safety training toolkit through an OSHA Susan Harwood Training grant. The toolkit provides information on heat-illness prevention in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole to make sure farmworkers are armed with the best health and safety practices when it comes to extreme heat.
WEATHER RESILIENCY
Farmworkers are on the front lines of extreme weather. From record-high temperatures and drought to wildfires and flooding, farmworkers are vulnerable due to their working and living conditions. Farmworker Justice partners with government agencies and community-based organizations to make sure both workers and employers have the tools and information to protect themselves and their families from extreme weather-related dangers.
PESTICIDES
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Worker Protection Standard protects farmworkers from pesticide-related injuries and illness. However, workers may not know about the health effects or symptoms related to pesticide exposure and may be reluctant to seek medical care. Farmworker Justice works with partners to make sure both farmworkers and the health centers that serve them know about the potential hazards and symptoms of pesticides.
