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First High Heat Advisory of 2014 Issued for California; WGIS Offers Heat Illness Prevention Training

With temperatures across the state soaring well into the 90’s and with some areas possibly reaching 100 degrees, the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) issued its first high heat warning of the year. Cal/OSHA, the division of DIR that protects workers from health and safety hazards, issued the warning to employers as temperatures in both northern and southern California are expected to be 15-25 degrees above normal. The unseasonably high temperatures make the risk of serious injury from heat illness to outdoor workers, such as farm laborers, a serious threat.

Greg Nelson May 01 2014 in Legal

Prevent Heat Illness…It’s the Law

With temperatures rising into the 90s in some areas of the state, workers could easily be affected by the heat in the fields. A number of factors can help employees avoid heat illness such as access to cool, clean water; proper rest and shade; training for all supervisors and workers on heat illness symptoms and treatment - as well as making sure there is a heat illness program in place that includes emergency procedures for the treatment of any medical emergency.

Greg Nelson Apr 29 2014 in Farm Labor

Import Fee Increases Proposed for Agricultural Quarantine Inspections

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced import fee increases in order to recoup the cost of fee inspections conducted at U.S. ports of entry. APHIS, which is part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), proposed the rule on April 25, 2014. The proposal provides a 60-day comment period that will take into consideration all submitted comments.

Ken Gilliland Apr 29 2014 in International Trade

Alliance for Food and Farming Refutes “Dirty Dozen” Consumer Scare List

An annual report released today meant to alarm consumers about pesticide residues and produce was swiftly and summarily refuted by the Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF). The list, known as the “dirty dozen,” purports to list the produce with highest residual pesticide amounts; however, the AFF issued a press release referencing findings of sound science and asked concerned consumers and the media to review several of the peer reviewed studies and government reports on the subject before coming to any conclusions regarding the list.

Matt McInerney Apr 29 2014 in Science & Technology

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