The California Department of Pesticide Regulation released two educational resources Nov. 5 to explain what employers must do after possible workplace pesticide exposure and what protections workers have. The materials address medical care, transportation and reporting, giving agricultural employers and workers guidance on responding when an exposure or pesticide-related illness may have occurred.
The announcement introduces an employer responsibilities flyer and a worker rights handout. Both describe existing California protections, rather than a new rule taking effect with their release.
Medical care includes transportation
According to DPR, when an employee has a pesticide-related illness or has been exposed to a pesticide that could reasonably cause illness, the employer must ensure the employee receives medical attention. That responsibility includes providing transportation to medical care and covering the cost of care.
The employer flyer emphasizes responding quickly and says workers should not be allowed to drive themselves to the doctor. It also highlights potential penalties for failing to meet these requirements. The flyer is available in English and Spanish, with more translations planned.
Worker rights and reporting options
The worker handout covers the right to medical care at no cost, access to pesticide safety information and training, and the right to report unsafe pesticide working conditions or potential pesticide-use violations without punishment or job loss, according to DPR.
It also explains how to report pesticide concerns and what to do when experiencing serious health symptoms. The handout is available in English, Spanish, Punjabi, Hmong, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.
Both resources can be downloaded from DPR’s Worker Health and Safety webpage. To report a pesticide incident, including a lack of transportation or access to medical care after potential workplace exposure, DPR directs people to its Report a Pesticide Incident webpage or 1-877-378-5463.
