When the sun sets over California's rich agricultural fields, the work doesn't necessarily stop. Many farmworkers work through the night. They collect crops, water them, use machinery and do other important jobs. All of these jobs are important for the state's farming industry. But working in the dark is dangerous. That's why California has clearly taken steps to protect these essential workers.
This is California's law about working in agriculture at night.
In 2020, a key regulation was adopted by the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Commission (Cal/OSHA). This was to improve safety for night-time agricultural workers. This rule is called the Nighttime Agricultural Workers Standard. It says that all agricultural employers in California must make sure their employees wear Class 2 high-visibility safety clothing during night work. This is work done from sunset to sunrise.
This standard is more than just a guideline—it's the law. Employers must make sure that people who work at night have reflective safety gear, such as Class 2 reflective vests or jackets. These are designed to make them more visible in places where there is not much light.
What is Class 2 High-Visibility Clothing?
The type of high-visibility safety clothing you need is based on how much reflective material and background fabric it has. Class 2 garments are designed for workers who are exposed to traffic or equipment moving over 25 mph, or for those who need to be seen better because of difficult backgrounds or low-light conditions. This is exactly the scenario in many nighttime agricultural operations.
Typical Class 2 gear includes:
- Reflective safety vests
- Reflective jackets
- Overalls with reflective striping
These garments are typically made in fluorescent colors like lime green or orange and feature horizontal and vertical reflective stripes that catch and reflect light from vehicle headlights, flashlights, and machinery.
Why Reflective Gear is Important at Night
It is very important to be able to see well at night to stay safe. Without reflective gear:
- Workers are hard to see in the dark, especially among equipment, vehicles, and uneven terrain.
- Tractor and vehicle operators may not see nearby crew members, leading to tragic accidents.
- Emergency response is slowed when workers are not easily identifiable in low-light conditions.
- Reflective vests dramatically reduce these risks by increasing visibility, helping drivers and machinery operators detect workers from a distance and avoid dangerous encounters.
According to Cal/OSHA's rules, employers must:
- Give your workers Class 2 high-visibility clothing for free.
- Make sure you wear your clothes properly from sunset to sunrise.
- Teach train workers why reflective garments are important and how to use them properly.
- Employers must also check the lighting and visibility at night-time work sites and do more, like providing lighting systems or extra safety equipment, if needed.