Skip to main content

Monterey County Protect Farmworkers from Wildfire Smoke


SALINAS – The Monterey County Board of Supervisors, Chairman Christopher Lopez,
Supervisor Luis Alejo, Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales, and
agricultural industry leaders came together to request N95 respirators for the essential
agricultural workforce. “This is the same group that created the Advisory for Agricultural
Worker Protection During COVID-19 Crisis on the Central Coast of California”, said Gonzales.
As a result of this request, the County secured 100,000 N95 respirators to protect this critical part
of our local workforce. This essential workforce feeds the state, the nation, and the world.
The partnership, including the Coastal Growers Association, Grower-Shipper Association of
Central California, Monterey County Farm Bureau, and the Monterey County Vintners &
Growers Association with County leaders, secured the N95 respirators through a request placed
with California's Office of Emergency Services. This week, the Monterey County Agricultural
Commissioner's Office distributed an existing stock of 10,000 N95 respirators to the agricultural
industry to help protect agricultural workers from wildfire smoke. Before this, the Agricultural
Commissioner's Office, in partnership with Supervisors and agricultural industry leaders,
distributed 2.4 million free surgical masks to protect the essential agricultural workforce from
COVID-19.
The additional, limited supply of respirators will be made available to agricultural businesses
through the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner's Office to support the industry's
measures to protect agricultural workers from wildfire smoke. Moreover, due to the wide-scale
shortage of N95 respirators, it is important to be mindful of best practices and practical
applications respecting the use and/or reuse of N95 respirators per Centers for Disease Control
guidance where supply chain shortages are resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
These respirators are being made free of costs to growers and farm labor contractors for their
essential agricultural workers.
Agricultural businesses can reach out to the Agricultural Commissioner's Office at 831-759-
7340 or at 281-PUE-Workstation@co.monterey.ca.us to request masks. Masks will be
apportioned based on need.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suspect Vehicle in King City Quadruple Homicide on March 3 Has Been Located

  The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, on behalf of the King City Police Department is informing the community that the suspect vehicle involved in a quadruple homicide that occurred Sunday, March 3 on the 200 block of North Second Street in King City, has been located and recovered.  The vehicle was located in an unincorporated area of South Monterey County. The King City Police Department is receiving assistance from multiple local and federal law enforcement partners in this investigation. Based on the nature of this investigation, no further details regarding the recovery of this vehicle are being released at this time.   The Monterey County Sheriff's Office and the King City PD are asking the community for their assistance in reporting any information they may know regarding this incident which tragically left 4 people dead and 7 people injured, two with critical injuries. Information can be provided by contacting the following: King City Detective Sergeant Josh Partida 831-3
Post a Comment
Read more

3 Vehicle Accident on Highway 101 in Soledad on December 7

  A 3 vehicle crash ocurred on Highway 101 Southbound near the Front Street exit in Soledad at 4:01 pm on Thursday afternoon, December 7. Minor injuries were reported as a result of the collision. 
Post a Comment
Read more

1 Vehicle Rollover Outside of King City on October 20

  1 vehicle overturned off of County Road 18 and Frudden Road outside of King City at 2:34 pm on Friday afternoon, October 20. 1 occupant received injuries as a result of the crash and ended up being transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas to be treated. The cause of the wreck is unknown. 
Post a Comment
Read more