The heat dome five years ago demonstrated that heat stress affects agricultural workers greater than other BC workers, according to a new report from BC Policy Solutions authored by University of Victoria (UVic) researchers.
The report, Protecting BC workers in a warming climate: Recommendations for WorkSafeBC, issued Tuesday intends to inform revisions to BC’s Workers Compensation Act occupational health and safety regulations relating to thermal exposure. UVic sociologist and report lead author Susanna Klassen said the regulations need to ensure the most vulnerable workers are protected.
“Agricultural workers tend to face greater occupational vulnerabilities to heat stress than the average BC worker because they often have precarious immigration status, earn low wages, are rarely unionized, engage in taxing physical labour and usually work outdoors without shade,” says Klassen.
Hotter temperatures reduce productivity and increase the likelihood of workplace injury, the report notes. Extreme heat can be fatal for workers because it puts immense stress on vital organs like the heart and kidneys. It can also amplify the harmful health effects of occupational hazards such as pesticides and air pollution. These risks are especially high in industries like agriculture where workers often do physically demanding work in shadeless fields.
Many agricultural workers have precarious jobs, making it risky for them to refuse to work in dangerously hot conditions. One study found that agricultural workers in the United States are 35 times more likely to die of heat-related illness than workers in other industries.
“Thermal exposure regulations in BC have not been updated since they were created over 20 years ago. Since then, the risks of heat exposure have escalated,” says Anelyse Weiler, a UVic sociologist who co-authored the report.
The report’s recommendations included:
- Implement a straightforward trigger temperature approach.
- Prioritize worker involvement in developing regulations.
- Update protocols to reflect current research, especially for acclimatization, shade, drinking water access, rest breaks without pay disruption, sanitation and worker training.
- Strengthen enforcement systems by developing enforcement partnerships with worker groups, enforcing regulations proactively, naming and shaming bad bosses.
- Establish rigorous, dignified housing standards for migrant workers.
- Provide permanent resident status for migrant workers.
- End the three-month waiting period before migrant workers can access the BC Medical Services Plan.
- Improve access to unionization and worker bargaining power.
The report was a partnership between The Worker Solidarity Network and BC Policy Solutions and funded by a CIHR Partnership Catalyst grant.
