User Panel
Posted: 9/24/2004 2:50:23 AM EDT
Can we please just get rid of CA please.
Of course the organic farmers are exempt. Fucking envinro assholes. Is it too hard or not. I wonder how many illegal jobs this will destory though. California Bans the Pulling of Weeds by Hand on Most Farms Due to Risk of Back Injury Field workers pick weeds in a baby lettuce field in Salinas, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004. California became the first state Thursday to ban weeding by hand on most farms, saying the work is too backbreaking for laborers. Under a rule approved by the California Occupational Safety and Health Division, farmworkers, in most cases, will not have to stoop to pull weeds, but will instead be given long-handled tools that will allow them to work without bending over. The rule takes effect within two weeks. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) 09-23-2004 10:33 PM By JENNIFER COLEMAN, Associated Press Writer SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California became the first state Thursday to ban weeding by hand on most farms, saying the work is too backbreaking for laborers. Under a rule approved by the California Occupational Safety and Health Division, farmworkers, in most cases, will not have to stoop to pull weeds, but will instead be given long-handled tools that will allow them to work without bending over. The rule takes effect within two weeks. The regulation aims to prevent the "real and substantial risk of back injury" caused by stooping to weed or thin plants by hand, Cal-OSHA said. The workplace-safety agency had no estimate of how many California field hands hurt their backs. Agriculture is one of California's top industries, supporting over 1 million jobs and contributing nearly $28 billion to the state's economy. There is little data on the prevalence of hand-weeding on California farms. But crops such as lettuce, carrots, celery and strawberries are considered so delicate that they are weeded by hand. "The same kind of crops we have here are grown in other nations, other states. The crops aren't unique to California," said Mike Webb of the Western Growers Association, which represents farms. Yet, he said, "we're going to be the only place on the face of the Earth that has a regulation or law that outlaws hand-weeding." Growers and farmworkers have been battling over the practice of hand-weeding for years. In 1975, California banned a short-handle hoe that required workers to stoop low for hours at a time as they pulled weeds. At United Farm Worker Union leader Cesar Chavez's funeral, his grandchildren placed the 12-inch tool on an altar as a symbol of the labor activist's effort to improve the lives of farmworkers. While the ban ended the use of the tool, it did not prohibit workers from weeding by hand. In 1993, Cal-OSHA found that prolonged hand-weeding caused the same debilitating back injuries associated with use of the short hoe. The new rule says farms cannot require workers to weed by hand for extended periods of time unless they can show that long-handled tools are not effective. If the workers must hand-weed, they must be given longer breaks, and there are restrictions on how much time they must spend toiling at the task. Len Welsh, acting chief of Cal-OSHA, said the regulation will be a challenge to enforce. With most OSHA rules, "there's a particular tool that's not allowed or a substance you can't expose workers to," Welsh said. "Here, you're talking about a work practice, something completely behavioral." The Western Growers Association opposed previous attempts to enact legislation covering hand-weeding because they were outright bans, Webb said. He said the Cal-OSHA rule is more reasonable, he said. "We've talked to a number of our growers," he said. "They've agreed it's something they can live with." Organic farmers who rely on hand-weeding are exempt from the rule. "Because they don't use pesticides, organic growers have more of a weed problem than non-organic growers," Webb said. "Without an exemption, it would have jeopardized the organic industry." Mike Meuter, an attorney with the California Rural Legal Assistance, which represents farmworkers and pushed for the new rule, said it will not be too burdensome on growers. "California's farmworkers deserve these protections," he said. "It's been too long." |
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You bitch about this law...then you bitch about imigration.
Then some people bitch and tell me unions are a GOOD thing. Uh huh. Sgtar15 PS How you doing man??? |
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California has become a mix of China and France. That's all I can say. I have no other words to describe the place. It's easier in CA to count the things that are legal than are not. You can't legally do anything in that frigging state anymore. Of all the stupid things!
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california needs to fall into the ocean and die already
al those earthquakes must be god's way of saying "quit that, goddamn it!" |
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This is pitiful.
"You don't want to pull weeds by hand, amigo? Awww... the law says you don't have to? Let's see your green card, puta." - BG |
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I don't have a problem with unions as long as they stick to what their industry is.
I think we ought to have a temporary worker visa of some sort. The jobs are there and need to be done. But no ought to also lock the border down and harshly punish those that don't get visas. The main reason I'm bitching about this law is CA might as well be the Soviet Union. I'm surprised any companies can even make a profit there with all the regulations they have to deal with. Can you imagine the economic power this country could have if we would just take the reins off. |
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In other news:
California has outlawed Blowjobs due to the risk of knee injury and gagging. Skrew Commifornia. |
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Why bother with hiring illegals if you can't even make them do stoop labor? Looks like it's time to re-mechanize the agricultural sector.
GunLvr |
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An exception for the organic growers? Liberals taking care of liberals. Nuff said.
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Um....I dislike Kalistan as much as anyone, but this is really not something to blame the state for.
If you read the story you'll see that is was recommended by OSHA. All things considered they aren't banning weed pulling, they are just making it mandatory to give them a tool to do it with, reducing strain on the back, and thereby reducing back injuries. I don't know, doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me. |
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This seems to make economical sense and common sense. I know I was more productive weeding beans with a hoe than pulling by hand. I'm not too crazy about laws mandating thing, but I'd think it would be cheaper for employers to have more productive employees. Am I missing something? |
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Yes, I re-read the story. It says "Cal-OSHA," which is the CALIFORNIA Occupational Safety and Health Administration. So why wouldn't California be to blame for a policy enacted by a California agency? |
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The W/C claims for weed pullers must be outta control. Oww my back hurts, retire in mexico.
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What on earth?! I grew up in CA and my parents had me pulling weeds in the yard all the time. Then again, Mom's a farmgirl who grew up in Utah and Arizona.
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Unless it's one guy blowing another guy... |
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Well, that's true enough. I still don't see it as being a bad thing though. I don't necessarily agree with enacting a law about it, but it does seem to make sense to me that you'd want healthy workers that can produce for longer periods of time. Plus it should reduce health care costs for the company. Good business the way I see it. Just can't figure why they'd need a law for it. I'd think businesses would actually want to do this. |
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I don't know about this...
California Bans the Pulling of Weeds by Hand on Most Farms Due to Risk of Back Injury But I do know if it was my job to pull weeds by hand, I'd make myself something to use that would not require me to stoop over,that is for sure. GM |
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You almost forgot the most important ingredient! |
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That article makes my mind hurt. I can't even comprehend how some people think.
apnews.excite.com/article/20040924/D859PAT81.html |
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my friggin 85 yr old grandmother still pulls weeds!!!!!!!!
CA: the antithesis of common sense |
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do you think they could make a federal law that would just ban california?
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BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!
California also bans wiping your ass. Reaching around may cause shoulder injury. All Kommiefornians must now drag their ass on the carpet like a dog. |
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Which would be fine if they hadn't already banned carpet. |
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Damn, I deal with W/C stuff all the time. CA back injuries from illegals must be insane. I don't know how that state has the largest population in the country and a ton of business. I would have bailed years ago.
Well, feel free to move your farming operation to another state where weeding can be done by either hand or machine. Sorry CA, but stupid laws (some W/C, some safety, and many socialist) only hurt CA. Somehow I feel that they will hurt the rest of the US down the road. |
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What happened to the free market and let employees make their own decisions??? |
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Fixed it for ya. |
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Notice that all the crying pussy bitches complaining aren't from California. Guess they can't take it and have to whine to their Internet fellow wusses.
It's actually a method of preventing illegal aliens. If we can't ban them, then effectively ban their jobs. Like outlawing the short hoe a few (bunches?) years back. The farm companies will find a way to become more productive without the method. Eventually hydroponics? you have the crop floating and supported in water above ground and then no weeds and probably able to be picked by machine. |
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Give the illegals hoes. CRC |
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How about banning doggie style sex!
Women bent over with all of that hard thrusting. It's gotta be hard on the spine. The porn industry would be ruined. |
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Yea, hurt myself jerking off in the mens washroom, so now I need workers comp. |
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So obviously you are not proponents of working smarter not harder.
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can you do some kind of connect the dots thing so i can see how the fuck you got from A to -b+X^4xc california is fucked up like a soup sandwich and for stating the obvious that makes me a wussy.................ooooooooooook |
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If an illegal worker works in an illegal manner, is it illegal?
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Every state has OSHA ergonomic regulations and that is all this is. What they are asking is that workers be given long handled tools and if they are not effective in performing the work to justify why. Having done enough yard work in my life I would prefer to stand then having to kneel or bend over to pull weeds or turn dirt, it is hard on your back. A long handled tool is not terribly expensive and since President Bush doesnt seem to care about the illegal alien problem and since California is forced to cover the medical bills of these illegal aliens; we might as well provide some cheap preventive measures to decrease hospital visits.
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next up: a law to genetically engineer frogs with wings so they don't bump their asses when they hop |
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nice intellectually stimulating response |
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truth hurt a bit? |
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Makes me wonder how many millions of dollars have been paid out by California to cover the cost of illegals with back problems because they have no insurance.
It sounds like their generous welfare program is biting them in the ass again. |
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I think you need to get out more and leave the racism in Kentucky, friend. I think we can accomodate preventing injuries in agriculture like in any other industry. Besides, we need to protect these jobs for the homeless who will need work after we cut 'em off and deport the illegals! |
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i dont get why people are bitching about this.
give them a tool to do their work, which might even INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY because they are able to work longer and clear more fields. more productivity means more food in the stores, which could in theory lower prices. with the tool you will have LESS people to do the same amount of work, which means the employer has a lower employee pay scale, and higher profits. maybe even less illegal workers coming into the country, sounds good to me. if there are less people getting hurt, then there are less people in the hospital soaking up our medical attention. at least thats the theory, expect this law to come to a state near you. |
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It's a plot by the land developers and strip mall / home builders.
Pass enough stupid laws and agriculture will move out of the state (and probably out of the country) which will free up more land for WalMarts, 7-11's ARCO's and Albertos Taco Stands. |
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If this really made them more productive then the market would have already done it. The government doesn't have to tell the free market how to be productive. If it is so much better than why haven't the workers gone and bought the $5 tool? This is about buying votes and nothing else. |
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