The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released updated farmworker standards to provide health protections under the law similar to those already afforded to workers in other industries.

“We depend on farmworkers every day to help put the food we eat on America’s dinner tables—and they deserve fair, equitable working standards with strong health and safety protections,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “With these updates we can protect workers, while at the same time preserve the strong traditions of our family farms and ensure the continued the growth of our agricultural economy.”

“No one should ever have to risk their lives for their livelihoods, but far too many workers, especially those who work in agriculture, face conditions that challenge their health and safety every day,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez. “By promoting workplace safety, these provisions will enhance economic security for people struggling to make ends meet and keep more Americans on the job raising the crops that feed the world, and we are proud to support the EPA in this effort.”

McCarthy and Perez took part in a media conference call today, along with Arturo Rodriguez, President of the United Farm Workers. “We have worked with President Obama, EPA Administrator McCarthy, ‎Secretary Perez and others in the administration to end decades-long discriminatory labor practices against farm workers,” said Rodriguez. “It’s been a long time coming, but it has come today.” The announcement coincides with the 50th anniversary of California farm workers joining together to fight for basic labor protections.

The new EPA pesticide rules include:

Requiring all pesticide applicators be at least 18 years old
Creating whistleblower protections so farm workers can confidentially submit complaints over pesticide abuses
Providing pesticide application records for all farm workers for the past two years
Easy access to all workers or their representatives for records involving exposure to hazardous chemicals
Posting pesticide hazard information in central locations, in both English and Spanish

Listen to the conference call on the new regulations here: New EPA farmworker regulations press call