Amid nice words and failed promises, heat still kills California farmworkers | Opinion
Asunción Valdivia. Maria Isabel Vasquez. Rosa Elvia Durazo. Salud Zamudio Rodriguez. Ramon Hernandez. Agustine Gudino. Constantino Cruz. Elidio Hernandez.
These are just a few of California’s farmworkers — beloved parents, siblings and children — who were working hard to put food on our tables and provide for their own, only to be killed by preventable, heat-related illness.
More than 400,000 farmworkers across 60,000 farms in California ensure all of us have access to fresh food on our tables. Yet California’s efforts to protect farmworkers from extreme heat are falling short of the state’s legal standards.
In 2005, following the death of at least four farm workers due to extreme heat and lack of access to water, shade and rest, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took action by implementing the first outdoor heat safety standard in the nation.
California’s standard simply requires access to clean drinking water, adequate shade and paid breaks for farmworkers working in deadly high temperatures that can cause illness and death. Just this past August, nearly 75% of California experienced such temperatures.
California’s heat safety protections are necessary and are proven to save lives. However, a 2022 study by UC Merced found that nearly 50% of California’s farmworkers reported working in conditions that failed to meet the state’s heat safety regulations, including lacking water, shade, or paid breaks.
In July, the state auditor released findings showing that the California Occupational Safety and Health Agency (CalOSHA) safety inspectors are not helping when they should. The reality is that CalOSHA simply cannot monitor the tens of thousands of fields that exist across California. This leaves too many violations unseen and unreported. Clearly, the system for protecting farm workers from deadly heat in California is failing.
That is why we have introduced AB 1336, a straightforward and logical bill that has gained bipartisan support in the Legislature. Under AB 1336, if a farmworker suffers heat-related injury, illness or death and it is proven that their employer did not provide water, shade, and paid breaks as required by law, then that worker’s heat-related injury would be presumed to have been caused at work. This would qualify the injury for workers’ compensation. The presumption would only apply if the employer is proven to have violated existing heat safety rules. Employers who are in compliance with existing laws by providing water, shade and paid breaks would not be impacted.
Recently, Gov. Gavin Newsom commended farmworkers by declaring California Farmworker Day and recognizing the farmworker community as the “best of California, embodying resilience, drive and a deep love for their families and communities.” The governor must back his words with meaningful action to protect the very people he commends.
In a time where farmworkers are being targeted and terrorized by the federal government, creating legitimate fear of speaking up for workplace safety, California must show the nation what true leadership looks like. The legislature has shown that we are ready. Now it’s the governor’s turn. By signing AB 1336, Gov. Newsom can finally fulfill the promise California made two decades ago.
Teresa Romero is president of the United Farm Workers, the nation’s largest and oldest agricultural labor union. Assemblymember Dawn Addis represents the 30th Assembly District, including San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Santa Cruz, and is the chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee 1 on Health.
This story was originally published September 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM.