Between 1 and 3 million migrant farm
workers leave their homes to plant, cultivate, harvest, and pack fruits,
vegetables, and nuts. Hand labor is necessary for the production of the
blemish-free fruits and vegetables that consumers demand.
Approximately 47,000 migrant farm workers and their family members come to
New York State each year. The majority of workers in New York are of Mexican
origin. Others come from Jamaica, Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras, Puerto Rico,
the Dominican Republic, and other states within the United States.
Three hundred and eighty labor camps are approved to provide housing for
7,314 workers in NY State. The Clinton County Health Department performs
inspections on migrant farm workers' housing units in Clinton County, to
ensure that they are providing a safe and sanitary environment for the workers, per the
health code.
An application for a permit to
operate a migrant farm camp that provides housing, must be submitted to the
permit-issuing official at the Clinton County Health Department at least 30 days
before. Below are some forms you can download to get started.
Click here to download the application to apply for your permit to
operate.
Click here
to download the pre-operational inspection form.
Click here to download the Corporation document if you are incorporated.
Responsibilities of the
Operator
Maintain structurally sound housing and
prevent infestation by insects or rodents.
Provide stoves, refrigerators and
facilities for cooking and dining. The cooking, refrigeration equipment,
shelves, dishwashing sink, table and chairs must be maintained in a proper
operating condition and in good repair.
Provide and maintain smoke detectors and
fire extinguishers in
every dwelling unit.
Provide an adequate quantity of safe
water to drink.
Provide and maintain adequate toilets,
showers and handwash facilities. Hot and cold water must be supplied to
the sinks and showers.
Provide laundry trays, wash tubs, sinks
or washing machines with hot and cold water for washing clothes, and
provide clothes lines or dryers for drying clothes.
Provide an adequate number of
containers, with covers, for storing garbage and refuse. The containers
must be kept in good repair and clean.
Provide adequate lighting fixtures and
electrical circuits, and maintain electrical service and wiring in good
repair and in a safe condition.
Properly store flammable or volatile
liquids and agricultural chemicals. Storage must not be in or adjacent to
housing areas.
Maintain access to an adequate
communication system for occupants to call for help in the event of a
medical or safety emergency and make available a first aid kit.
Provide and maintain heating equipment
that can maintain comfortable temperatures for habitable rooms, including
bathrooms, shower rooms and washrooms.
Responsibilities of the Occupants
Keep the living are, including cooking,
shower, and toilet areas clean. Cook stoves and the areas around them must
be cleaned regularly so grease does not build up and cause a fire hazard.
Use the facilities and equipment
provided in a safe and proper manner.
Do not remove batteries or disconnect
wires from smoke detectors or place plastic, tape or otherwise cover smoke
detectors to make them inoperable.
Do not use electrical adapters to
increase the number of appliances or equipment that can be plugged into an
electrical outlet.
Do not remove or rip holes in screens,
nor do not leave open
the windows or doors, to prevent access to flies and other pests.
Put garbage and trash in proper
containers and keep the covers on the containers at all times.
Do not burn garbage or throw garbage on
the ground.
Use only the heating or cooking
appliances that have been approved to use in the facility.
Do not use electric frying pans,
portable burners or similar appliances to cook in your individual rooms.
Portable space heaters must be approved
for use.
Do not allow guests to stay overnight
without permission from the operator. Overnight occupancy cannot exceed
the permitted capacity.
Please inform the facility operator of
any housing problems. Conditions, such as no water, no heat, blocked sink
drains or toilets, should be reported.
Contact Us
To receive more information, call or
visit us at:
Clinton County Health Department
Environmental Unit 135 Margaret Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Tel: (518) 565-4870
Note:
These
are external web links.
Clinton County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability in employment or
the provision
of services. The information on the Clinton County Health Department website is
for educational purposes only. Nothing on the pages of this site shall be
construed
as medical, fitness, dietetic, or other professional advice. This information is
based on current beliefs among researchers and research studies published in the
current scientific literature. Clinton County is not responsible for, nor does
it necessarily endorse any content on external web links.
hese
are external web links.