Check your email each week for helpful tips on achieving GAPC Certification.
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THIS WEEK:
Housing, Sanitation, and Transportation
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1. Housing
If the grower provides housing directly to workers, the grower must:
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Ensure that the facility complies with all federal and state safety and health standards, including up-to-date certification from DOL (US-based) or other appropriate governmental agencies. (The auditor will request to see the housing inspection)
- (NEW 2023) Ensure housing is maintained to comply with all federal and state safety and health standards.
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Inspect housing prior to occupancy and at mid-season, using the OSHA Housing Safety and Health Checklist provided in the GAP Labor Management Resource Guide (Additional Standard)
- Post or present to each worker, in their native language a statement of the
terms and conditions of occupancy. (The auditor will request to see the terms and conditions)
Terms and Conditions must include:
- Name, address and contact information of the individual in charge of the housing
- Emergency contact information
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Physical address and mailing address of the housing facility
- Who may live at the housing facility
- Charges to be made for housing
- Meals to be provided and any associated cost for them
- Charges for utilities
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Any other charges or conditions of occupancy
If the grower uses a Farm Labor Contractor (FLC) and the FLC houses workers: (1)
the FLC must be authorized to house the workers (auditor will check FLC
registration) and (2) grower must obtain and keep a copy of housing inspections for all housing utilized. (The auditor will request to see the housing inspection)
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| Worker Housing Training Kit |
GAPC encourages growers to have open discussions with workers on the importance of house cleaning and
expectations on maintaining a clean-living space. Growers are also encouraged to make regular visits or walk throughs of the housing unit to check for maintenance issues or damages made to the interior of the house.
To assist growers, GAPC has developed a Worker Housing Training Kit. The kit is designed for growers or Farm
Labor Contractors who provide housing to farmworkers. The kit can aid in the preparation, discussion, training, and maintaining of compliant, clean, and enjoyable housing for occupants.
The Worker Housing Kit includes instructions on how to prepare for and conduct training on worker housing and best practices to consider when providing housing to migrant and/or seasonal workers.
A key benefit is to make the housing unit inviting and a peaceful place for everyone to live.
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2. Sanitation
Standards in this section apply to ALL farming operations including those that only have immediate family farm labor, if applicable. Auditors will visually inspect and verify in worker interviews that workers have access to the following:
Critical Standards:
- Cool, potable water available during work hours
- Clean and sanitary bathroom facilities during work hours
- Hand washing facilities with soap at close proximity to bathrooms
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Rest breaks during the day, including lunch, without compromising their ability to earn wages
Grower operations with eleven (11) or more workers, employed during the past twelve months, at any one time, engaged in hand-labor operations must provide clean and sanitary bathroom facilities during work hours and hand washing facilities with soap at close proximity within a quarter-mile walking distance from worker’s place of work in the field. Toilet and handwashing facilities are not required within a quarter mile for workers who perform field work for a period of three (3) hours or less (including transportation time to and from the field) during the day. Grower must provide proof of purchase, rental or cleaning/servicing services. If receipt cannot be produced for facilities owned by the grower the field sanitation log can be used.
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3. Transportation
If transportation is provided, growers must ensure that vehicles meet legally required safety standards and that drivers are properly insured and licensed. Vehicles must be inspected when required by law and person supplying the transportation must maintain inspection records.
- Are drivers properly insured and licensed? (Auditor will ask to see insurance
and licenses when applicable) - Is the transport vehicle inspected to ensure it is safe?
- Are the vehicles used to transport workers appear in good condition (i.e. safe to drive)?
- Do you have inspection records for the transport vehicle? (Auditor will ask to see inspection records. If there are no inspections required by law in grower's state, grower can show their own records that demonstrate they inspect the vehicle for safety hazards)
Vehicle Inspection Log
If vehicles are not required to have federal or state inspections, the vehicle inspection log should be used to routinely check vehicles that are transporting workers. The vehicle inspection log can be completed by the grower and does not require a professional to complete.
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Have questions while preparing for your monitoring visit?
Call the GAPC Office at 865.622.4606.
GAPC Staff are available Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm EDT
Please leave a message if we are not available - only calls with messages will be returned.
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www.gapconnections.com | 865.622.4606 | info@gapconnections.com
2450 E.J. Chapman Drive Knoxville, TN 37996
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2450 E.J. Chapman Drive | Knoxville, TN 37996 US
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