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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Workers Allegedly Dusted With Herbicide

SEATTLE (CN) - A crop duster sprayed a toxic herbicide on farm workers who were taking a lunch break in an apple orchard, causing the workers to become sick, a class action claims in Franklin County Court.

The pilot was spraying a nearby alfalfa field with the chemical Clethodim when he flew over the workers, who were waving their arms and yelling for him to stop, according to the complaint.

The workers say they suffered dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and rapid heartbeat. A fire chief called to examine the workers sent most of them to local clinics, according to a press release by the workers' lawyer, Ernest Radillo.

Triple AAA Farms, B&R Arial Crop Care and pilot Bernard Eskildsen allegedly violated Washington pesticide laws by allowing the chemical to drift onto people. They also failed to post warning signs about the spraying, the complaint says.

The workers seek compensation for their injuries.

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