Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126185933 - Hernandez Labor Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on July 20, 2005, an employee and coworkers were working in the field, harvesting bell peppers in an open field near the road. There was no shade from natural vegetation. Workers were picking the peppers, placing them into baskets on the bell machine. The peppers from the bell machine went into the bin conveyors. The employee said that from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. his legs were very weak. The employee said he did not tell anyone of his condition. A coworker, who is sometimes a foreman, drove the employee home with another farm worker after work which ended at 4:00 p.m. At home the employee collapsed from heat stroke. This employee was in the hospital for 5 days. The foreman was in the field close to the employee and said he was not aware of any problems. The supervisor was working with another crew. The supervisor said that he was not aware of the employee being ill. Based on interviews, cool water and toilet facilities were close by and the farm workers, including the employee, were drinking water. Based on the climatologically report from the National Weather Service, the maximum temperature was 104 degrees F at 4:03 p.m.

Keywords: HEAT, AGRICULTURE, HEAT STROKE