In agricultural interests, the regulatory authorities in California try to treat bird flu, such as the next Covid 19 pandemic, when it comes to protecting agricultural workers. Labor representatives want companies to now grant danger wages and create the access of employees to vaccinations.
According to Bryan Little, Senior Director of Policy Advocacy at California Farm Bureau, milk producers have long worked with the supervisory authorities to protect employees during the new outbreak.
During a recent hearing from Cal/Osha, Little said that he personally saw the widespread use of respiratory protection and others personal protective equipment from the employees of his members. He also emphasized the role of CAFB and other farm groups at the co-security workshop with the regulatory lines of the state, including CAL/OSHA consulting services.
“I can tell you that the dairy farmers take on their responsibility to protect their employees very seriously,” said Little.
He rejected objections to conclusions that were presented in a study presented in front of Cal/Osha by the University of California, the Merced Community and the Labor Center. Under the direction of Associate Research Professor Jennifer Cosylonon, The study resulted Those of the 31 milk workers surveyed, only two said they received adequate training and resources to protect themselves from bird flu.
The study recruited milk workers via Valley Voices, a non -profit workers' rights based in Kings County. The organization requests changes to the Cal/Osha Zoonotic aerosol -transferable pathogens standardWhat compliance objects for agricultural operators prescribe during the outbreaks of infectious diseases.
The researchers also claim that dairies are more geared towards productivity than the safety of the workers. Several employees said they were forced to prevent infected cattle and others that they were exposed to retaliation measures for the stay from home due to flu -like symptoms.
Using the findings of the UC Merced, Valley Voices developed a list of guidelines, according to which employers include additional paid work leave that prescribe diagnostic reporting to CAL/Osha and the California Ministry of Public Health and provide vaccines for employees.
At the Cal/Osha hearing, the deputy health chief Eric Berg referred to A CDC study From this month, the infections of the human bird flu and the use of PSA analyzed.
Using CDPh data, CDC monitored 5,000 employees on infected milk and poultry farms. Of 171 workers tested, 38 in California were found positively for bird flu. None of the positive workers wore breathing protection and only about half wore the eye protection.
Berg noted that the ATP standard “always at work or with sick animals” requires respiratory protection.
The chairman of the Cal/Osha board, Joseph Alioto, asked whether a state milk employer was punished or cited for violating the ATP standard in terms of bird flu.
Cal/Osha has not yet received any retaliation complaints
Ali Merchant, a Cal/Osha Senior Safety Engineer, confirmed that only a quote was issued according to the specific rule. However, he added that other quotes about a lack of respiratory protection and sanitary facilities were triggered and that they are probably related to the bird flu protocol.
He found that all agricultural workers concerned through retribution measures can call a local district office and report anonymously, said that Cal/Osha has not yet received any such symptoms.
Michael Miiller, California Association of Winegape Growers Director of government matters, warned the board of directors to create additional compliance standards for employers without significant data.
Michael Miller (Agri Pulse Foto)“We hear conversations about data, discussions about the need for possible regulation and in the entire conversation we go back to Covid and all of this,” said Miiller. “If the existing regulation deals with the problem, a new regulation is not really necessary.”
Alioto said he hoped that more agricultural workers will be able to take anonymous symptoms without fear of retaliation.
“I think this will be due to physical inspections on site to ensure compliance with the regulations,” he said.
But the Centers for the control of the disease has confirmed that no vaccine available has been launched so far. And at the beginning of this month, federal, state and local authorities had the opportunity to explain the nationwide H5N1 reaction efforts before hearing a joint hearing with the Senate 'Health and Agriculture.
Dr. Erica Pan, the newly appointed director and state public health officer at the California Ministry of Health, said that the collaborative “One Health” approach between the CDPh, California Department of Food and Agriculture, the US Agriculture Ministry and the Local Authorities began 2022 with the initial H5N1 outbreak in Poultry – become in the future.
“We can all be proud that we have not yet reported any human infections to poultry workers,” said Pan.
CDFA secretary Karen Ross said Governor Gavin Newsom's Emergency cancellation In December it enabled further coordination between state agencies and created a dedicated bird flu.
Karen Ross (Agri pulse photo) Ross admitted that the close relationship from CDFA to Cal/Osha contributed to maintaining a component of public health for the reaction efforts of the department.
Pan praised Ross for her quick coordination between state and federal authorities and said that CDFA helped several agencies to contribute to a planning workshop in August before they were infections in humans. They were able to distribute around 4.6 million PSA items in 18 counties with the help of local health authorities and industry.
She added that the COVID-19 protocol informed the current strategy for wastewater surveillance in the state's bird flu campaign and described it as a “complementary tool” that was paired with tests. Wastewater monitoring has shown a general decline in the H5N1 values in recent months.
“Fortunately, we see here in California, the outbreak of the flu slowed down, less new recognitions. We observe and continue to monitor these other animals that seem to be infected,” said Pan.
Milk industry: Evidence gap leaves the producers confused
Edward Flores, faculty director of the UC Merced Labor Center, also testified in front of the committees and referred to the political recommendations of the center, in which stricter employer compliance with the labor laws were required. He argued that the number of farm workers tested nationwide did not synchronize the total number of infected dairies.
“We don't really go with the right questions,” he said.
However, the dairy industry again urged this claim when California Dairies said Inc. Field Field Representative Doreen Dyt that a lack of research explained the cause of the transmission, many producers were confused how the weaknesses can be determined exactly exactly.
She agreed that the state distribution of free protective equipment via CDPH and the local public health departments was immediately effective, and found that her father received a PSA program from CDPh the next day.
Sen. Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, asked Flores and Karen Elliott, director of Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency, whether the use of PPE was hindered by access or whether it was only the use and education on the farm.
Elliott explained that the access of Tulare County to state partners and the state of emergency investments in resources have made widespread tests and papers of PSA possible.
Since the first outbreak, her team PSA has distributed to every dairy products throughout the district. Elliot attributes her early success to additional coordination with Tulare County's Agricultural Commissioner, Tular County Farm Bureau and Dairy Inspectors to gain the trust of industry. You also created a joint information communication team with five surrounding counties to work together when the virus has exceeded the county boundaries.
“I really have the feeling that it was a team performance,” she said, adding that the use of state health technology systems such as Calconnect, Calredie and Calvax were already available and that the district load made it easier.
But Flores returned to the idea that production is still being prioritized and explained that the employees will provide sick animals regardless of the resources that their employer provides. He said there should be greater transparency about what the H5N1 reporting between dairy products and CDPh looks like.
Cal/Osha has the next six months to evaluate the Valley Voices petition. According to this, the board employee can make recommendations and continue with the regulation if necessary.
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