Farm Laborers

Job description

All duties are performed on the farm:

Workers will perform general farm labor, included harvesting of Romaine lettuce, Romaine hearts and iceberg lettuce, as well as sanitation of agricultural equipment. This job requires prolonged stooping, selecting vegetable by size and quality, cutting vegetable with handheld knife at base of vegetable, peeling excess leaves for proper weight, size and presentation, packing into box by specific arrangement pertaining to each box weight or size, loading completed boxes onto truck pallets and tying load.

Sanitation workers will clean work areas, equipment and facilities. Such duties include power washing vegetable conveyor belts and equipment, and sanitize and scrub with brushes. All sanitation work falls under the definition of secondary agriculture because it is in conjunction with and incidental to the farming operations of the employer and it grower. Sanitation work is performed near or adjacent to the farm at a cooler used to clean and pack 100% of the grower’s product. See 29 CFR 780.105(c)

Special Requirements

1 month of experience harvesting lettuce. Specific requirements include lifting up to 50 pounds frequently and able to use hand tools, including cutting knives. Must be able to work under conditions where skin and clothing become heavily soiled with mud, water, grease, etc. Must be able to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions, including rain, cold, high winds, etc. Work involves frequent bending and working in bent or stooped positions. Must be able to walk and stand up extensively. No smoking, alcohol, firearms in the field or residential housing.

Work is performed in open fields and may involve exposure to mud, dust, wind, heat, cold, and other natural elements. Temperatures can range from 30 degrees Fahrenheit to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the period of employment. Workers should come prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear for the environmental and working conditions described.

See Addendum C.