California sharply cut back its enforcement of outdoor heat-protection laws as extreme heat intensified in recent years, endangering farmworkers and others who toil in scorching temperatures, according to an investigation by Robert J. Lopez, with support from the Fund. The report, co-published in the Los Angeles Times and Capital & Main, found that on-site safety inspections by Cal/OSHA dropped by nearly 30% between 2017 and 2023. Violations issued to employers fell by more than 40% during the period. For his report, Lopez relied on state data, interviews with more than 40 farmworkers across California and a survey of dozens of fields and orchards in seven counties. His reporting is part of a larger ongoing investigation of California’s agricultural industry supported by the Fund. In response to the report, state lawmakers vowed to introduce legislation to protect farmworkers, and a week after the investigation was published, Cal/OSHA announced that it was bolstering its enforcement unit to go after the most egregious employers.
Grantee investigation shows that California cut back on safety enforcement as farmworkers toil in extreme heat; report sparks action
