Tanimura & Antle respond to suspected pesticide exposure

According to an article from The Californian, Tanimura & Antle faces potential fines up to $5,000 after failing to provide transportation for all 18 fieldworkers to the hospital when they became ill in June of last year, according to a county report. Workers started vomiting and feeling nauseous, dizzy and numb within hours after arriving to work near a field sprayed with pesticides the night before, the report by the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner's office said. Some workers voluntarily drove themselves to the hospital from the field, which is in Salinas city limits, the report said.

The agricultural commissioner's office found that Tanimura & Antle failed to assure all employees with a suspected pesticide illness were transported to a physician. However, it did not cite any violations that might have led to the sickness in the first place.

Tanimura & Antle disputes that it permitted known symptomatic employees to drive themselves or others to the hospital. The company ensured that all 18 crewmembers were accounted for and promptly seen by medical providers at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital (SVMH). Tanimura & Antle reaffirms its commitment to ensure that all employees in need of medical attention are safely transported to medical providers.

After communications with the Ag Commissioner’s Office to verify facts in its report and violation notice, Tanimura & Antle has been informed that a correction will be made to reflect that the symptomatic foreperson did not drive himself or others to the hospital, as initially reported.

Although the June 2017 incident occurred at Moresco Farms Harden Ranch located near Harris Road and Abbott Street, Tanimura & Antle owns the crops, provides farm labor and performs pesticide applications. There were no pesticide treatments in the field the employees were asked to work in, confirms Tanimura & Antle. The field was clear for entry.

A crew of 18 Tanimura & Antle workers had arrived to transplant celery at approximately 4 a.m. on June 22, 2017. They parked and worked within 15 feet of an adjacent celery field where five pesticides had been applied by an unlicensed pesticide handler at 10 p.m. the night before, according to the report. Another unlicensed pesticide handler applied pesticides on a lettuce field approximately 200 feet away at 10:30 p.m. Unlicensed pesticide handlers were allowed to apply the specific pesticides used that night since they had direct supervision and received prior training, the agricultural commissioner's office said. There was a pesticide danger sign posted next to where cars parked that told workers not to enter the field, saying do not enter. People were not allowed to set foot in the neighboring pesticide-applied celery and lettuce fields for 48 hours.

Weather on both days was reported to have little to no wind. There was heavy fog and high humidity when workers arrived that morning – typical Salinas Valley morning weather. Low wind speed, high humidity and dense fog conditions could cause off-site movement of pesticides. In a statement, Tanimura & Antle concurs with the County’s assessment that the early morning’s dense heavy fog, high humidity and little to no wind could have compromised the work environment with the off-site movement of pesticides from the adjacent fields which affected the company’s workers. 

During the workers’ two hours of transplanting celery, they developed and reported illness symptoms to their supervisor. Tanimura & Antle states that it first received reports of illness at 6:15 a.m., at which point the decision was made to immediately have the entire 18-member crew (symptomatic or not) taken to SVMH. By 7 a.m., the hospital was assessing the employees and after examination, SVMH released all 18 employees to return to work. To the company’s knowledge, no treatment was prescribed in connection with the suspected exposure.

According to the county’s chief deputy agricultural commissioner, the pesticides’ application in the adjacent fields was within compliance.

Two weeks ago, the agricultural commissioner’s office issued a notice of violation to Tanimura & Antle. If prosecutors do not take the case, the agricultural commissioner will move forward with a fine of up to $5,000.

“Tanimura & Antle continuously seeks to improve its operations; accordingly, internal policies are being reviewed to incorporate additional considerations into our practices, including weather conditions, to meet and exceed current regulations. The Company prides itself in putting employees first and has a long history of providing safe working conditions for all employees and for supporting rules that protect all farmworkers,” concluded Kyla Oberman, Director of Marketing with Tanimura & Antle.

For more information:

Kyla Oberman

Tel: (+1) 831.455.4150