California Reminds Farm Employers to Get Workers Medical Care After Pesticide Exposure
A new flyer says employers must provide and pay for a ride to treatment, and a worker handout covers the right to report problems without punishment.
- By Danielle Naidu
- Nov 10, 2026
Farmworkers in California who get sick from pesticides, or are exposed to them on the job, have two new guides explaining their rights and what employers owe them. The state Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released the materials Nov. 5.
Under California law, an employer must make sure a worker with a pesticide illness gets medical attention, the employer flyer says. The same goes for a worker exposed to a pesticide that could reasonably cause illness. The employer must provide transportation to care and pay for the treatment. Employers shouldn't let workers drive to a doctor on their own, and those who don't comply could face penalties, the flyer says.
For workers, a separate handout covers protections already in state law. These include free medical care, pesticide safety training and information, and the right to report unsafe pesticide work or possible violations without being punished or fired. It also explains how to raise concerns and what to do about serious symptoms.
Both guides can be downloaded from DPR's Worker Health and Safety webpage. The handout comes in eight languages, including Spanish, Punjabi and Hmong. The flyer is in English and Spanish for now, with more translations coming soon, DPR said.
A lack of transportation or access to medical care after a possible exposure at work can be reported as a pesticide incident through DPR's Report a Pesticide Incident webpage, the agency said.
About the Author
Danielle Naidu is assistant editor for Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.