“Legislation Needed to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat in California: Lawmakers Respond to Alarming Report”

State lawmakers are responding to a concerning report that highlights a significant decrease in enforcement of outdoor heat protection laws by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). According to an investigation by the Los Angeles Times and Capital & Main, field inspections by Cal/OSHA have dropped by nearly 30% between 2017 and 2023, with the number of violations issued to employers falling by more than 40% during the same period.

Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro), chair of the Labor and Employment Committee, expressed her disappointment and frustration with the agency’s lack of enforcement amidst escalating heat waves across California. She emphasized that Cal/OSHA has repeatedly failed to ramp up inspections despite the intensifying heat conditions, as reported by farmworkers who have accused the agency of neglecting safety laws.

In response to these findings, Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) announced plans to introduce legislation that would require Cal/OSHA to establish a new heat safety certification program for agricultural workers. This training program, to be administered online by the agency, aims to educate workers about their rights, how to report violations, and ensure compliance with heat safety regulations.

Despite previous efforts to support Cal/OSHA’s enforcement capabilities, Ortega highlighted that the agency currently has 141 unfilled positions in its enforcement unit, representing a vacancy rate of 37%. She and other lawmakers are backing a bill proposed by Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San José) that seeks to promote compliance with outdoor heat regulations and provide compensation and medical treatment for workers who suffer heat-related injuries due to employer negligence.

Cortese emphasized the urgency of the bill, citing the dangers faced by farmworkers during record-breaking heat waves. He stressed the need for rapid response and support for workers and their families in cases of heat-related injuries or fatalities.

This news story was produced in collaboration with Capital & Main and the McGraw Center for Business Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York, with support from the California Health Care Foundation and the Fund for Investigative Journalism. The proposed legislation and ongoing efforts by lawmakers reflect a commitment to protecting workers in California from the risks associated with extreme heat conditions in the workplace.