The goal of the Agricultural Worker Health Project (AWHP) is to improve farm worker health and safety in the fields and in farm worker housing. We also seek to assure that rural communities have access to safe drinking water and secure transportation for farm workers. California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) and the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc. (CRLAF) pursue these goals through the operation of five interrelated strategies:[1]
- Coordinated outreach and community education activities directed to the farm worker community regarding rights, remedies, and protections (topics include: pesticides; farm worker housing; field sanitation and safety; ergonomics; work place injuries; water and municipal services; harassment/discrimination/retaliation; special farm worker populations [youth, elderly, female, indigenous, LGBT]; wage and working conditions; language access; rest and meal breaks; protective gear and tools; machine safety and training; and heat stress.)
- Field monitoring of farm worker employment and housing sites to encourage employers and landlords’ voluntary compliance with the health and safety laws;
- Direct representation of farm workers in judicial and administrative proceedings to enforce health and safety laws and vindicate farm workers’ rights;
- Identification of gaps in existing law, regulation and policy that endanger the health and safety of the farm worker community;
- Increased collaboration with community partners, media, and academics to improve farm worker health and safety.
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[1] To the extent that policy work is required which would conflict with CRLA’s funding restrictions under its grant from the Legal Services Corporation, in conformance with LSC restrictions as interpreted by federal court decisions, CRLAF undertakes that work.
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