Steve Sutter
By April 1, 1992, agricultural employers were required by Cal/OSHA Safety Order 3457 to supply toilets, hand-washing facilities, and drinking water for hand laborers, including irrigators. Employers include farm labor contractors.
Under legislation passed in 1990, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health was directed to begin a "special emphasis" field sanitation inspection program, commonly called a sweep, on April 1. The San Joaquin Valley was expected to be one of the prime targets. Complaints received by county health departments are often referred to Cal/OSHA.
Failure to provide field sanitation results in a minimum penalty of $750. Inspectors will also look for other serious hazards, however, and will check for a written injury and illness prevention program. Serious violations carry maximum fines of $7,000 each.
Drinking water must be sufficient, pure, and cool. Employers are required to provide one hand-washing facility for each 20 employees or fraction thereof. If fewer than 5 hand laborers are employed, separate toilets for each sex are not required.
Employers are also responsible for ensuring that workers use facilities and for telling them of good hygiene habits to minimize health hazard exposure. Written records of toilet servicing are to be kept for 2 years.
English/Spanish hygiene posters and brochures, and a copy of the field sanitation rule, are available for $1.00, payable to "County of Fresno," from the UC Agricultural Personnel Management Program, 1720 South Maple Avenue, Fresno, CA 93702.
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