New DPR Resources: Understanding Worker Rights and Employer Responsibilities After Pesticide Exposure
When a farmworker experiences a pesticide-related illness or exposure symptoms while at work, knowing what to do next is critical. Workers have important rights, and employers have specific responsibilities under California law to ensure the people working for them receive appropriate medical care and other protections if an exposure occurs.
To support worker health and safety and strengthen awareness of key legal requirements, DPR is releasing new educational resources focused on worker rights and employer responsibilities related to pesticide exposure and pesticide-related illness incidents while at work. These resources are one part of DPR’s broader efforts to promote compliance, support a strong enforcement program, and protect agricultural workers throughout California.
Protecting Worker Health and Safety
DPR works to protect agricultural workers through a combination of regulatory requirements, training, outreach and enforcement.
Employers and farm labor contractors are responsible for complying with California’s pesticide safety requirements and ensuring workers receive the protections provided under the law. DPR takes enforcement of worker health and safety protections seriously and works with county agricultural commissioners to hold employers accountable when those obligations are not met.
It’s also important that workers understand their rights. DPR staff provide on-the-ground outreach and training to farmworkers, employers, farm labor contractors, community organizations, and others throughout California.
DPR requires continuing education for licensed and certified pesticide applicators. DPR-approved courses help applicators stay up to date on pesticide regulations, safety requirements, and best practices that help protect worker health and safety.
New Resources for Employers and Workers
To support these ongoing efforts, DPR has developed two new resources that provide information about worker protections and employer obligations when pesticide exposure or pesticide-related illness may have occurred at the jobsite.
Employer Responsibilities Flyer
The new flyer details an employer’s legal responsibilities when an employee may have experienced a pesticide-related illness or exposure and highlights the importance of responding quickly. It reminds employers of the law: if an employee has a pesticide illness or has been exposed to a pesticide that could reasonably result in illness, the employer must ensure the employee receives medical attention, including providing transportation to medical care. The employer must also cover the cost of medical care. The flyer also reinforces that workers should not be allowed to drive themselves to the doctor and highlights the potential penalties for failing to comply with these requirements.
The flyer is currently available in English and Spanish, with additional language translations coming soon.
Know Your Rights Handout
The handout for workers provides an overview of existing protections in California law including the right to medical care at no cost, access to pesticide safety information and training, and the right to report unsafe pesticide work conditions and potential pesticide use violations without being punished or losing their job. The handout includes information on how to report pesticide-related concerns and what to do if experiencing serious health symptoms.
The handout is available in English, Spanish, Punjabi, Hmong, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean.
All materials are available for download on DPR’s Worker Health and Safety webpage, which includes additional information on worker rights, pesticide safety training, pesticide exposure, and how to report unsafe conditions.
To report a pesticide incident, including lack of transport or access to medical care following potential pesticide exposure at work, please visit DPR’s Report a Pesticide Incident webpage or call 1-87PestLine (1-877-378-5463).
DPR’s mission is to protect human health and the environment – that includes protecting California’s agricultural workforce. Improving worker safety is one of the key goals identified in DPR’s Strategic Plan, and the department will continue to advance that goal through enforcement, education, outreach, training, and collaboration with local partners.