SACRAMNTO BEE

July 17, 2010

Possible link to heat exposure investigated in 5 California worker deaths

By Susan Ferriss

As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issues warnings for Californians to beware of sizzling heat, Cal-OSHA is already investigating five worker deaths since June as possibly related to heat exposure.

Two deaths occurred Wednesday – the same day that state legislators held a Capitol hearing on whether the state's regulations are good enough to protect workers from injury and death.

"Heat illness continues to be extremely significant for us, and we put special emphasis on it," said Erika Monterroza, a state occupational safety spokeswoman.

Four people whose deaths are under investigation were farmworkers, and one was a construction worker.

Schwarzenegger issued a statement Friday to "remind outdoor workers and those that employ them of California's stringent regulations to prevent heat illness."

On Wednesday, Rodolfo Ceballos Carrillo, 54, collapsed while loading boxes of table grapes onto trucks at Sunview Vineyards in Kern County.

Autopsy results are pending. Temperatures reached 97 degrees. In July 2008, Abdon Felix, 42, another worker for Sunview Vineyards, died after performing the same job.

Felix's death was confirmed as due to heat stress. Sunview Vineyards was not found in violation of regulations.

Dan Gallegos, representative of Sunview, said Sunview believes Ceballos Carrillo had health problems and did not die of heat stress.

"We're deeply and sincerely saddened by his death," Gallegos said.

Monterroza said Cal-OSHA will consider whether loading heavy boxes in high heat played a role in his death.

Some safety specialists believe that California's heat-safety laws, while better than most states', should include mandatory rest breaks during high temperatures.

The regulations, which were beefed up several years ago at Schwarzenegger's urging, instruct supervisors to let workers take extra breaks if they request them.

United Farm Workers National Vice President Armando Elenes said workers who are paid piece-rate wages for harvesting or loading boxes are reluctant to ask for breaks because they fear looking unfit for work or losing money.

The other deaths Cal-OSHA is probing are: a plum picker, 49, in Tulare County who died June 11; a farmworker, 33, who died in Indio June 29; a farm mechanic, 57, who died in Firebaugh July 12; and a construction worker who died Wednesday in San Bernardino County.

Monterroza said Cal-OSHA has done about 1,340 work site inspections to check for heat- safety violations, and found 316 this year.

Five companies have been shut down and reopened after addressing violations.