Urgent Advisory – Tree Nut Theft
The Association participated in the California Rural Crime Prevention Task Force Meeting in Santa Nella and learned the tree nut industry has once again experienced the theft of two loads of finished product tree nuts. One was almonds and one was pistachios, and were destined to locations in the central U.S. Both loads were believed to be stolen using “fictitious pickup’ though details are still coming in. We send this as a urgent reminder to remain diligent especially at this time without outbound loads. As a reminder, we developed the following recommended deterrent measures:
- All pick-up appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance, and require:
- Pick-up #
- Driver’s name and D/L #
- Trucking Company Name
- Verify paperwork upon arrival
- Take photographs of driver, truck and trailer
- Take photographs of license plates and VIN#
- Take thumbprint of driver
- Post warnings at truck entrance
- Install high definition surveillance cameras
- Utilize GPS tracking devices
This is a sophisticated crime. Please be proactive and prepared. The last time this hit, more than 40 loads of tree nuts were stolen. The Association is already in contact with law enforcement officials. For more details on how these thefts work, please visit the “Issues” section of the WAPA website, and be sure to adopt, implement and verify the above procedures are in place. Should you experience any suspicious activities, please notify your county sheriff’s department and our office at (559)455-9272.
COVID-19 Guidance Update
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance for Quarantine and Isolation periods in response to the ongoing Omicron cases. This new guidance from CDC reduces the time after contracting or exposure to COVID-19. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has just released their updated guidance to conform with CDC, with additional requirements. Listed are the current guidance for quarantine and isolation:
- Isolation period of infected employee after a positive COVID-19 test regardless of vaccination status, natural immunity or lack of symptoms
- stay home for five days
- isolation can end if no symptoms or symptoms improve after five days, and a diagnostic test on day 5 tests negative
- if unable to test or choose not to test and symptoms are not present or resolving, isolation can end after day 10
- continue to wear mask around others for a total of 10 days
- Quarantine period after exposure (close contact) to someone with COVID-19, this will depend on vaccination status
- unvaccinated employees, have not received booster, or second dose of Moderna/Pfizer more than 6 months ago or single dose of Johnson & Johnson more than 2 months ago
- stay home for five days
- test for COVID-19 on day 5
- quarantine can end after day 5 if symptoms are not present and diagnostic test on day 5 is negative
- if unable to test or choosing not to test and symptoms are not present, quarantine can end after day 10
- continue to wear mask around others for a total of 10 days
- vaccinated employees who have received a booster after a two dose of Moderna/Pfizer more than 6 months ago or single dose of Johnson & Johnson more than 2 months ago
- wear mask around others for 10 days
- get a COVID-19 test on day five
- if symptoms develop, get a test and stay home
- unvaccinated employees, have not received booster, or second dose of Moderna/Pfizer more than 6 months ago or single dose of Johnson & Johnson more than 2 months ago
- The definition of boosted or vaccinated but not yet *booster eligible
- the individual does not need to quarantine
- test on day 5
- wear mask around others for 10 days
*Booster eligible definition from CDPH specifies Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech is six months after second dose; Johnson & Johnson is two months after first dose
Reminder, under the Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) beginning January 14 requires employees to wear face covering and maintain six feet social distance if they are not excluded or return to work. Currently under the ETS, an asymptomatic fully-vaccinated employees does not need to quarantine as long as they wear a face mask and social distance for given period, however, CDPH now makes a new distinction between boosted and un-boosted. If an employee is vaccinated and booster eligible but hasn’t received the booster dose, they must stay home for 5 days.
The Association continues to monitor CDPH, Cal/OSHA, CDC and local health departments guidance and will update members on this already complicated situation.
Association Testifies at Air District Meeting on Farming Practices
This past week, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District held a workshop on potential amendments to Rule 4550 – Conservation Management Practices (CMPs). The potential changes stem from a commitment in their 2018 PM2.5 State Implementation Plan (SIP) to further evaluate ways to promote conservation tillage practices and other potential enhancements to their CMP Program to reduce dust from ag operations. Specifically, the District is considering more widespread adoption of conservation tillage, and possible control measures on land that is fallowed and then worked up. Association President/CEO Roger Isom testified at the workshop encouraging the district to take their time before any control measures are proposed. Isom stated that any potential measures must be based on actual scientific data obtained through actual scientific measurements, as was the case with most of current adopted CMPs. Isom also commented that the potential measures must have an actual impact on reducing PM2.5 during the critical times of the year. This rule development process for these changes is just beginning and the Association will be involved throughout the process.
WAPA Delivers Almonds and Pistachios to Los Angeles Christmas Food Drive
Association President/CEO Roger Isom and Director of Technical Services Christopher McGlothlin drove to Los Angeles today to deliver almonds and pistachios for a Christmas Food Drive to 500 needy families this Christmas. The event is coordinated by the El Monte Emergency Resources Association and helped by Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio. The almonds were graciously donated by Grizzly Nut, and the pistachios generously provided by Horizon Nut Company.
Cal/OSHA Renews COVID-19 ETS
The California Occupational Standards Board met yesterday and renewed the COVID-19 ETS with some minor revisions. Once approved by the California Office of Administrative Law, this readoption will remain in effect for 90-days, from January 14, 2022 through April 14, 2022. Some of the revisions:
- face covering to now include a light test for fabrics that do not let light pass through,
- require vaccinated employees to test who have had close contact in the workplace,
- provide testing at no cost, during paid time, to all employees in the workplace who had close contact and provide them with information on benefits
- employees exempt from wearing face coverings due to medical condition, mental health condition or disability requires social distancing (6 feet apart) from all other employees and either fully vaccinate or test weekly,
- return to work requirements – employees may return under the following conditions:
- employees who had a close contact but never developed any COVID-19 symptoms may return to work after 14 days have passed since last known close contact unless either applies:
- 10 days have passed since the last known close contact and the employee wears a face covering and maintains 6 feet distance from others while at the workplace for 14 days following the last date of close contact.
- 7 days have passed since the last known close contact; the employee tested negative for COVID-19 using a COVID-19 test with the specimen taken at least five days after the last known close contact; and the employee wears a face covering and maintains six feet of distance from others while at the workplace for 14 days following the last date of close contact.
- employees who had a close contact and developed any COVID-19 symptoms cannot return to work until:
- at least 24 hours have passed since a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher has resolved without the use of fever-reducing medications; and
- COVID-19 symptoms have improved; and
- at least 10 days have passed since COVID-19 symptoms first appeared.
- employees who had a close contact but never developed any COVID-19 symptoms may return to work after 14 days have passed since last known close contact unless either applies:
- changes to post-care testing that would now include vaccinated employees,
Employer groups asked for further explanation or reconsider the new face covering requirements as most face coverings will not meet the light test requirements. The provisions to the post-care test to vaccinated employees with no symptoms will be difficult for employers to find tests due to the surge of COVID-19 variants, increase of COVID-19 cases during the holiday season and will disincentivize employees to vaccinate. The reinstitution on requirements for social distancing in the workplace will also be difficult for employers as they will need to modify work areas again. Cal/OSHA released the draft proposed COVID-19 ETS 5 days ago and the Association continues to review and monitor the ETS. The Association is also working on updating its COVID-19 Prevention Plan for members.