In California, during the recent Hughes Fire, farm workers like Griselda Ellez bravely continued to work in hazardous conditions due to financial necessity. Even as authorities recommended limiting outdoor activities, many workers lacked proper protective equipment, such as masks, despite laws aimed at safeguarding them. Organizers and community groups have stepped in to provide masks, but many workers report that employers still fail to meet legal requirements. This situation highlights the ongoing issues of worker safety and health hazards amid increasing wildfire threats exacerbated by climate change.
"The laws on the books are not the laws on the field," said Roman Pinal, a United Farm Workers organizer, highlighting the gap between regulations and actual practices in protecting workers.
Even in a state with standards meant to protect them from smoke and extreme heat, researchers and advocates say, outdoor farm workers face serious health dangers.
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