Often, field workers find that when  they stop to drink water, they are reprimanded by their supervisor. Anecdotal evidence tells us that coolers of drinking water are not kept full and disposable cups are almost non-existent. Farmworkers have informed us that they have even resorted to drinking out of a cooler attached to a moving trailer or tractor, placing their mouths under the spigot while running behind the vehicle.

According to the National Center for Farmworker Health a lack of safe drinking water contributes to high rates of dehydration and heat stroke among farmworker populations (2).

Every year in North Carolina, farmworkers labor under the hot sun without stopping for breaks and every year workers suffer because of dehydration. Dehydration and heat stress can quickly lead to heat stroke, a serious condition that can lead to death.

Migrant farmworkers may submit an anonymous complaint to the North Carolina Department of Labor if they are not provided with drinking water in the fields, portable toilets and handwashing facilities or sufficient time to drink water.  Individuals may also file complaints on behalf of workers.

The North Carolina Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who defend their rights under OSHA regulations.

Resources
1. National Center for Farmworker Health: http://www.ncfh.org

2. Ibid