The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has
published regulations on field sanitation that require portable
toilets, drinking water, and hand washing facilities to protect
the safety and health of migrant and seasonal farm workers.
The regulations apply to any agricultural employer having eleven
(11) or more employees engaged on any given day in hand-labor
field operations.
Since health hazards are involved, the Employment and Training
Administration (ETA) developed procedures to assist OSHA with
the implementation of the regulations by providing for an
improved coordination enforcement program. Included would be the
prompt referral of possible violations of the Field Sanitation
Standards to OSHA.
This standard will be enforced under the Job Service Complaint
System which will include responsibility for detection of
violation and field checks of work sites where JS placement have
been made under the intra or interstate job order clearance
system.
Job Service staff shall record in writing any complaint by a
MSFW concerning a violation of field sanitation regulations. The
complaint will be logged and immediately referred to the State
Monitor Advocate. The JS staff member taking such complaint
shall inform the farm worker of the action taken and provide
monthly follow-up on the complaint until it has been resolved.
Whenever a Job Service staff member observes or has reason to
believe there is a violation of field sanitation regulation, the
apparent violation shall be referred to the office manager. The
office manager or MSFW Outreach Specialist will attempt informal
resolution with the employer and record the complaint under
current reporting procedures.
Where placements have been made under the job order clearance
system Job Service staff will conduct field checks at a
significant number of work sites. Job Service staff conducting
these checks shall highlight any possible field sanitation
violations and refer them to the State Monitor Advocate.
