California — California has significantly reduced its enforcement of heat-protection laws for outdoor workers, even as extreme temperatures have intensified, endangering farmworkers and construction workers alike.
The Los Angeles Times and Capital & Main investigation reveals that the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) decreased field inspections by nearly 30% from 2017 to 2023. The number of issued violations fell by over 40% during the same period.
The decline in inspections and enforcement raises concerns about the effectiveness of California’s heat-illness regulations, introduced nearly 20 years ago following heat-related deaths in San Joaquin Valley fields. These laws mandate providing shaded rest areas and accessible, cool drinking water when temperatures exceed 80 degrees.
Ephraim Camacho from California Rural Legal Assistance emphasizes the need for increased inspections to protect farmworkers. They constantly receive complaints about inadequate shade and water. Despite Cal/OSHA’s claim of increased inspections in 2023, the agency’s data show a 15% drop from the previous year.
With California experiencing its warmest years on record and temperatures regularly surpassing 105 degrees, worker safety remains a pressing issue.
Since 2014, at least 17 workers have died from heat-related causes. To address these challenges, legislation by Senator Dave Cortese proposes stricter enforcement and compensation for workers affected by heat-related injuries.
Critics argue that Cal/OSHA’s staffing shortages—evident with a 37% vacancy rate—have compromised worker safety. Worker advocates call for better enforcement and collaboration with community organizations to ensure compliance with heat-safety regulations.
The ongoing challenge highlights the urgent need for effective measures to safeguard outdoor workers in increasingly extreme conditions.
