A Sonoma County, Calif., program that allows agricultural employers to bring their workers into mandatory evacuation zones to work during wildfires. A new study from the University of California Irvine details the dangers posed to workers by the program and makes 10 recommendations to improve worker safety.
For the LNU Fire, the Ag Pass program allowed 41 worksites and 115 workers within the fire perimeter. During the Glass Fire, the Ag Pass program allowed 37 worksites and 178 workers within the fire perimeter. However, the number of workers is likely larger, in particular for the LNU Fire, since 233 of the approved Ag passes did not list the number of workers.
Significant improvements need to be made to ensure health and safety, especially for socially vulnerable workers, the study says, including but not limited to:
- Post-Incident Accountability and Data Accuracy
- Clear Protocols for Identifying Workers and Location
- Participation by Farmworkers in Ag Pass Program
- Require Employer Emergency Plans
- Verify Employer Insurance Coverage
- Post-Exposure Health Screenings and Hazard Pay
- Emergency Training for Workers
- Real-time Monitoring of Air Quality