Ongoing research

Dear Colleagues, CalEPA is accepting applications for the 2019 Environmental Justice Grants Program.

What are mistletoes? Mistletoes (Arceuthobium spp. [dwarf mistletoes], Phoradendron spp. [American mistletoes], and Viscum album. [European mistletoe]) are evergreen, flowering plants that parasitize trees and shrubs to acquire water and nutrients.

If you get hurt on the job, your employer is required by law to pay for workers' compensation benefits. You could get hurt by a sudden accident at work or by exposure to chemicals, loud noise or doing the same motion over and over.

Agriculture is among the most hazardous industries in the United States. Many farmworkers fear contamination from agricultural chemicals and pesticides, but injuries from chemical exposure make up only 2 percent of the total.

Although employers are required to provide drinking water on the job, many workers don't drink enough of it. Some may feel their supervisor doesn't approve or they don't want to take time out when working at a piece rate. Others tend to wait until they feel thirsty.

The most common and costly agricultural injuries are back injuries. Many back injuries are related to lifting and carrying heavy loads. Awkward postures and slips and falls are also common causes of back injuries.

The stress of workplace conflicts can put farmworkers at a greater risk for on-the-job injuries. Frustration and anger can distract workers from their focus on the task at hand and on completing that task safely and properly.

Many farm jobs require repetitive motion doing the same task over and over again. Though sometimes unavoidable, this type of work can cause serious, chronic injuries. Everyone knows of someone who developed a bad back after years of field work.

Chugging fluids to quench an intense thirst is like pouring water on a wilted plant. The feeling of thirst is a late signal that the body needs water, so relying on your thirst to tell you when to drink is not a good idea.

An injury at work has an impact on the whole family. Being cautious and aware of hazards when you do your job will keep you healthy and employed. Falls are the third most common cause of all injuries and the cause of the most serious injuries for orchard workers.