Miami-Dade commissioners pass measure to adopt heat standard for outdoor workers

Loved ones mourn death of 30-year-old farm worker found unresponsive in the heat

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ Friends and loved ones say farmworker Efrain Lopez Garcia of Homestead complained about feeling sick during a shift out in the heat.

The 30-year-old was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead.

Most bosses arenā€™t considerate of what workers are going through in the heat, Luis Campos told Local 10 News in Spanish.

Itā€™s the same sentiment heard from many outdoor workers off camera in Homestead.

The county and the state should make strict laws to protect workers, he added.

Garcia is one of at least two farmworkers suspected to have died from being exposed to extreme heat in recent weeks.

The tragedies fueling protests outside the Miami-Dade County Government building Tuesday, calling for action to protect outdoors workers exposed to dangerous heat.

Their demands were answered Tuesday.

County Commissioners unanimously passed a preliminary measure to adopt a heat standard for workers.

It would require a safety program educating workers and their supervisors about heart exposure risk, a right to a 10-minute paid rest and shaded water breaks every two hours, and open a new county office to enforce these protections.


About the Author
Christian De La Rosa headshot

Christian De La Rosa joined Local 10 News in April 2017 after spending time as a reporter and anchor in Atlanta, San Diego, Orlando and Panama City Beach.

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