Cal/OSHA has cited Ruiz Farm Labor in Dixon for failing to protect its employees from heat illness, imposing a penalty of $17,550 for three serious heat illness violations of California’s heat illness prevention standard.
The investigation began in June after reports surfaced that the farm labor contractor allegedly fired a group of workers, known as the Yolo Six, for leaving their shifts early during a heat wave due to inadequate safety measures. Cal/OSHA initiated an inspection on June 13 in response to these claims.
Cal/OSHA’s investigation found that the employer did not:
– Implement high heat or emergency response procedures.
– Provide effective heat illness prevention training for both supervisors and non-supervisory employees.
– Adhere to its heat illness prevention plan regarding the acclimatization of employees during their first 14 days of working in direct sunlight and temperatures exceeding 95 degrees.
Additionally, the Labor Commissioner’s Office is looking into the alleged retaliatory actions, while the Agricultural Labor Relations Board is investigating claims of unfair labor practices filed by agricultural workers against Cooley Enterprises, Inc., the company that hired Ruiz Farm Labor Contractor.
