Cal/OSHA Cites Farm Labor Contractor for Serious Heat-Related Safety Violations

Cal/OSHA cited a farm labor contractor in Dixon for reportedly failing to protect its employees from heat illness.

The inspection was opened in June after reports the employer allegedly fired farmworkers who left their work shifts early during a heat wave due to inadequate protections.

Cal/OSHA has cited Ruiz Farm Labor in Dixon $17,550 for three serious-category violations of California’s heat illness prevention standard.

An inspection was launched on June 13, following reports that the farm labor contractor turned a group of farmworkers, known as the Yolo Six, away after they left their work shifts early during a heat wave.

Cal/OSHA’s investigation determined the employer did not:

• Implement high heat or emergency response procedures.
• Provide effective heat illness prevention training for supervisors and non-supervisory employees.
• Follow its own written heat illness prevention plan for acclimatizing employees during the first 14 days of working in direct sun and in temperatures that reached over 95 degrees.

The Labor Commissioner’s Office is investigating the alleged retaliatory action, and the Agricultural Labor Relations Board is investigating unfair labor practice claims that agricultural workers filed against Cooley Enterprises, Inc., the company that hired Ruiz Farm Labor Contractor.