Oregon OSHA recently announced new permanent rules the agency say swill protect workers during extreme heat and smoke events. Ira Cuello-Martinez with PCUN, a farm worker union, is pleased to see new guidelines for things like water and shade access.

“We saw the September 2020 wildfires spread across the state, we saw last year’s heatwave take the life of a farm worker, Sebastian Francisco Perez. So this is affecting people’s lives, their health, their wellbeing.”

But, Cuello-Martinez said he worries employers will take advantage of potential loopholes, adding a variations could be confusing.

"Oregon OSHA provides three different options for employers to follow, which is going to ultimately lead to confusion for the workers - especially farm workers who are going from different fields or different employers, different contractors and they may be following a different set of rules. 

He says farm workers have asked for these protections for years. 

Heat rules go into effect June 15th - mandating rest breaks, water access and supervision when temperatures rise above 90 degrees. Smoke rules, like providing masks when air quality declines, go into effect July 1st.

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