New report from AFL-CIO shows the AG industry has one of the highest mortality rates

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV): A new report from the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial organizations shows the agriculture industry has one of the highest death rates in the country.

In the 2022 report it shows the agriculture industry is one of the industry's having one of the highest mortality rates in the country. California isn't ranked high in terms of farmworker deaths per capita but it's still a concern to local workers.

"Scary, well, yeah. because they're not careful and that to leads stuff to happen." said Heriberto Sanchez Flores, who is a farmworker.

Total deaths for Latino workers increased every year from 2016 to 2022. The Monterey County Farm Bureau said they have steps in place to keep farmworkers from dying on the job.

"For instance, we have, heat sensitivity mandates that must be met by all agricultural producers," said Norm Groot, Executive Director for the Monterey County Farm Bureau, "Other workplace safety requirements as well as, equipment, mandates and limitations that must be adhered to."

Sanchez said he feels safe doing his job, and for local agricultural leaders, they think other states should look up to the golden state.

"California probably with, with the entire set of regulations that we have here, definitely leads the nation in, in not only farm worker safety, but employee safety in general." said Groot.

Monterey County agriculture leaders said they provide educational opportunities for farm workers throughout the year, some of it related to new mandates from CalOsha and state and local agencies.

The report also discusses total workplace fatalities in California. That number has gone up from 376 in 2016 and 2017 to 504 in 2022.