Garza Contracting, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Jul 20, 2012: Farm worker experiences seizure

At approximately 6:15 a.m. on July 20, 2012, an employee was working as a labore r for a farm labor contractor that provided labor for various growers. The emplo yee had arrived that morning at 6:00 a.m. to continue work in a carrot field, re moving vine entanglements on the crops. The employee went to use the portable to ilets. Upon exiting, he took about fifteen steps and began to have a seizure. He fell over, and his entire body convulsed for a couple of minutes. The employee was taken by airlift to Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. The air temperature at th e time of the incident was approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsi us). It was determined that the seizure was not likely to have been related to h eat illness. The incident was reported by the employer to the Bakersfield Distri ct office at 9:52 a.m. on July 21, 2012.

Incident on Jun 7, 2012: Employee is hospitalized with hyperventilation syndrome

At approximately 11:45 a.m. on June 7, 2012, Employee #1 was working in a vineya rd thinning and cutting grape bunches. The employee developed symptoms of headac he labored breathing, anxiety, vomiting, vertigo, and dizziness. The outside tem perature at the time of the illness was 77 degrees Fahrenheit, 26 humidity, 5 mp h winds, and clear skies. Employee #1 suffered hyperventilation syndrome. The em ployee was taken to Kern Medical Center by ambulance. The medical staff determin ed that Employee #1 had a normal body temperature and a normal level of hydratio n. The employee was treated and released.

Incident on Sep 15, 2011: Employee falls from ladder and is injured

On September 15, 2011, Employee #1 was picking peaches in an orchard from a ladd er. Near the end of his shift, he attempted to retrieve peaches beyond the safe reach distance of the ladder and lost his balance. He fell approximately 10 ft, striking the ground and sustaining unspecified neck and back injuries. Employee #1 was transported to a medical center, where he underwent treatment and was hos pitalized for postoperative care.

Incident on Aug 27, 2011: Employee suffers from muscle spasms

On August 22, 2011, Employee #1, a farm worker, suffered muscle spasms. He was n ot hospitalized. His family notified the employer three weeks later that he died on September 14, 2011. The information could not be verified with the local hos pitals or the county coroner.

Incident on Aug 30, 2011: Employee faints from heat exhaustion

On August 30, 2011, Employee #1, a farm worker, was working in a grape vineyard removing the paper stem protectors on new grapevines that were planted in the fi eld. While he was working in the field, he fainted. The employer called for medi cal assistance, and Employee #1 was hospitalized for heat exhaustion.

Incident on Jun 7, 2011 (fatal): Employee is killed in fall from ladder at peach orchard

At approximately 11:00 a.m. on June 7, 2011, Employee #1, a farm laborer, was wo rking at a peach orchard, located near the intersection of Rancho Road and Sebas tian Road in Arvin, CA. Employee #1 was thinning peaches, while standing a ladde r, at a height of approximately four feet to six feet. Thinning involved removin g some developing peaches from a tree so that others could increase in size. Emp loyee #1 fell and fractured four ribs. He was killed.

Incident on Mar 14, 2005 (fatal): Employee is killed when run over by tractor

At approximately 11:00 a.m. on March 14, 2005, Employee #1 was operating a John Deere 5400 farm tractor that was pulling a trailer when the tractor ran into a h igh powered wood pole. The employee got off the tractor and ran away. He then ci rcled around and ran after the tractor that was traveling approximately 10 miles per hour in an open field. When he reached the tractor, he was run over and kil led.