The Law Offices of Joseph E. Lounsbury

10/03/2026

NOBODY should be killed by heat at work, whether in the fields or at an airport.

10/03/2026

Extreme heat is becoming an increasingly serious workplace hazard in California, particularly for workers in physically demanding industries. According to a study from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, CA recorded 5,925 emergency department visits for work-related heat illness between 2016 and 2023. The state’s annual rate of reported occupational heat illness nearly doubled between 2000 and 2022, demonstrating that workplace protections and enforcement must keep pace with rising temperatures and longer heat seasons.

The danger is especially severe in regions where extreme temperatures overlap with agriculture, construction and other outdoor work. Imperial County recorded 33.5 occupational heat-related emergency visits per 100,000 workers, much higher than the statewide rate of 4.3. Madera, Shasta and Kings counties also reported substantially elevated rates. Farmworkers, construction crews, delivery drivers, landscapers and public works employees are most at risk, as they are the most likely to perform strenuous labor in direct sunlight with limited opportunities to rest or cool down.

Latino workers bear a disproportionate share of these dangers. Public health data shows that occupational heat-related emergency visits are concentrated among male, Latino and younger workers, reflecting their heavy representation in high-exposure industries. In 2024, Latino workers accounted for 51 percent of all fatal workplace injuries in California, compared with 24 percent nationally. Although that figure includes workplace fatalities from all causes, it reflects the broader safety inequities confronting Latino workers across the state.

The documented cases likely represent only a portion of the true harm because many workers are treated at work or at home, or their illness is never recorded as job-related. Employers must do more than maintain a heat plan on paper. They must provide water, shade or cool-down areas, proper training, reasonable rest periods and close monitoring without discouraging workers from reporting symptoms. No worker should have to risk serious illness, permanent injury or death simply to earn a living.

10/01/2026

California Labor Commissioner’s Office announces record-setting $272.5 million settlement with Lyft over driver misclassification claims

https://dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2026/2026-78.html

CA Labor Commissioner

09/24/2026

Is it just signs of aging or a hidden brain injury from the job?

Learn about California workplace rights.

08/21/2026

A cumulative trauma (CT) injury is a workplace condition that develops gradually from repeated physical or mental stress over time, rather than from a single accident. Things like continuous lifting, loud machinery, repetitive stocking. Case results depend on facts.

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

Tired of trying to reach your robot adjuster?

08/19/2026

Insurance adjusters know how to do one thing.

07/27/2026

Missing one deadline or document can give adjusters the opening they're looking for.

How soon should action be taken?

06/23/2026

Injured workers still have rights during recovery.