Under California law, all agricultural workers — including undocumented ones, can file for a workers’ compensation (WC) claim if they get injured or sick while on the job. This means that if you got hurt or ill from a workplace hazard, your WC benefit can pay for your medical care and/or rehabilitation program.
If your illness or injury has caused you a disability, your benefit can also provide compensation for your loss of wages. To discuss this topic further, here are three common types of agricultural injuries and illnesses covered by California’s WC insurance:
Heat-related illnesses
Agricultural workers like crop farmers operate in hot weather conditions to plant seeds, cultivate crops and maintain the fields. These types of activities are labor-intensive and can cause heat-related illnesses like heat rash, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and rhabdomyolysis.
Crush injuries
Agricultural workers use heavy farming tools and machinery to drill seeds, move large hays and operate on vast lands. This is what makes their jobs a high-risk occupation. Even when they are cautious in their routines, a simple equipment malfunction can pinch or trap their limbs and result in bone-crushing accidents.
Respiratory diseases
Farmers constantly work in proximity with various respiratory hazards. Prolonged exposure to harmful toxins, animal manure and chemical substances can cause them to develop respiratory diseases. Two common types of these are organic dust toxicity syndrome (ODTS) and farmer’s lung.
Your health must always come first
Getting hurt or sick while on the job should not make you drown in medical debt. By understanding your rights and the legal process involved, you can file your WC claim and seek the compensation that you deserve.