Sacramento food truck workers brace for extreme heat

Sacramento will see some of the hottest temperatures of the year this week – and those sweltering conditions will impact those who work outside. For those who work in outdoor industries such as agriculture, construction and landscaping, Cal-OSHA’s heat illness standard requires employers to provide their workers with adequate shade, water and rest. While food truck operators and other street vendors do not fall under those categories, they are still bracing for the extreme heat. Cristina Baizan, a cashier at Tacos El Aguacatero off Northgate Boulevard in Sacramento, said the owners check the weather ahead of time – and the workers decide together what their next steps will be.”If it’s really hot, over like 100 degrees, and if they decide not to work, they let us basically choose if we want to come to work or not, and then they go from there if they post up or not,” Baizan said. “It’s kind of giving us some flexibility to stay home or do something else, rather than being in the heat.”If they stay open, Baizan said the hot temperatures paired with the sizzling food can be overwhelming. That is why there are extra safety measures that are put in place, such as taking more frequent breaks and having additional water bottles available.The same goes for the Frutas Primavera food truck just down the street. Fernando Daza’s family owns and operates the food truck – and he said the extreme temperatures can take a toll.”It’s sometimes exhausting because the generator sometimes breaks down because it overheats, so we usually have water in there for us, so we can stay hydrated ,” Daza said.That is why there is more water and extra fans inside the food truck.”So that we stay healthy, and we don’t get heat stroke and stuff like that,” Daza said.Another tip for food trucks and outdoor vendors during the extreme heat is to set up shop in a shaded area or operate later at night when it is cooler.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Sacramento will see some of the hottest temperatures of the year this week – and those sweltering conditions will impact those who work outside.

For those who work in outdoor industries such as agriculture, construction and landscaping, Cal-OSHA’s heat illness standard requires employers to provide their workers with adequate shade, water and rest.

While food truck operators and other street vendors do not fall under those categories, they are still bracing for the extreme heat. Cristina Baizan, a cashier at Tacos El Aguacatero off Northgate Boulevard in Sacramento, said the owners check the weather ahead of time – and the workers decide together what their next steps will be.

“If it’s really hot, over like 100 degrees, and if they decide not to work, they let us basically choose if we want to come to work or not, and then they go from there if they post up or not,” Baizan said . “It’s kind of giving us some flexibility to stay home or do something else, rather than being in the heat.”

If they stay open, Baizan said the hot temperatures paired with the sizzling food can be overwhelming. That is why there are extra safety measures that are put in place, such as taking more frequent breaks and having additional water bottles available.

The same goes for the Frutas Primavera food truck just down the street. Fernando Daza’s family owns and operates the food truck – and he said the extreme temperatures can take a toll.

“It’s sometimes exhausting because the generator sometimes breaks down because it overheats, so we usually have water in there for us, so we can stay hydrated,” Daza said.

That is why there is more water and extra fans inside the food truck.

“So that we stay healthy, and we don’t get heat stroke and stuff like that,” Daza said.

Another tip for food trucks and outdoor vendors during the extreme heat is to set up shop in a shaded area or operate later at night when it is cooler.