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Advocates for Farm Workers Recommend Bilingual Product Warning Labels on Pesticides

Advocates for Farm Workers Recommend Bilingual Product Warning Labels on Pesticides

Bilingual Warning Labels May Reduce Harmful Pesticide Exposure

Being able to read product warning labels may improve farmworker conditions and workplace safety, according to a recent study. California-based news source KQED reported a new study from Farmworker Justice identified the need to alter current pesticide labeling standards to include hazardous chemical information in Spanish. With farmworkers receiving less education about workplace safety, advocates stated that if pesticides carried warning labels, employees would be able to better protect themselves.

Advocates Suggest Breaking the Language Barrier with Custom Product Labels  KQED reported bilingual custom product labels will allow workers to understand how to safely handle pesticides. Advocates like the Equitable Food Initiative are urging lawmakers to understand that not all workers understand English, but should still be protected.

Peter O'Driscoll, project manager for the Equitable Food Initiative, told the news source that proposed regulations at the federal level will take too long to come into effect, and workers need a solution now.

"The whole point is to get the team on-site to own this obligation," O'Driscoll said.

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