Thread: CA-Farm labor contractor fined in worker's death

Jul 23, 7:11 PM EDT


Farm labor contractor fined in worker's death

By GARANCE BURKE
Associated Press Writer





FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- The company that hired a pregnant teen who died of heat stroke this spring after laboring in a Central Valley vineyard was hit Wednesday with the highest fine ever issued to a California farming operation.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health fined Atwater-based Merced Farm Labor $262,700 Wednesday afternoon for violating eight workplace safety requirements.

State authorities believe 17-year-old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez died on May 14 because her supervisors denied her access to shade and water as she pruned white wine grapes for more than nine hours in nearly triple-digit heat.

"There was virtually a complete absence of shade or water, two of the very few tools that employers and employees have to fight the heat," said Len Welsh, chief of the division known as Cal-OSHA. "It's just too bad we can't undo the consequences of those violations."

Inspectors also found the farm labor contractor deliberately neglected to train workers and managers on how to stay safe while working in the heat and willfully skirted preparing for a medical emergency.

The firm's attorney, James Gumberg, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet is in the process of revoking the contractor's license.

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Good.....time to hold them responsible. Shame it took the life of a young woman and her baby to have people check on this......I bet they'd find out real quick why people don't take jobs in alot of these places and it's no excuse then to hire illegals to do it in the same inhumane or unfair conditions.

The high price we pay for fruits and vegtables should be passed on to the hard working folks in the field.There is no excuse, enforce the law.

The employers are not little growers its big companies.

Needed workers can be legally brought in to tend crops, their is no excuse to deny water to a field hand, can't do much work if you have heat stroke or dead.I just don't get it.

a fine is not enough, jail time for the boss of the crew.