Where We Live: Protecting Farm Workers

PROTECTING FARMWORKERS

In the summer of 1993, more than two dozen farm workers in Washington became extremely sick from exposure to Phosdrin, a highly toxic pesticide manufactured by Amvac Chemical Corporation. Although the EPA outlawed the chemical the following year, no compensation was ever given to the injured farm workers. Earthjustice represented them in court to sue Amvac and the distributor of the pesticide.

The injured workers claimed Amvac knew full well Phosdrin was extremely dangerous but never recalled the product. They also believed the distributor was at fault for not providing the safety training and educational materials required to use Phosdrin. A federal district court initially dismissed the case, but with help from Earthjustice, it was reinstated by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Washington Supreme Court.

As the case was about to return to court for trial, a settlement was reached and the farm workers obtained compensation for their injuries. Earthjustice believes that industry should be held accountable for negligent behavior that endangers public safety, and will continue to work with local communities to ensure that all workers are adequately protected from toxic exposure.

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