July is Extreme Heat Awareness Month, and the Equitable Food Initiative says it will offer heat safety and prevention resources for agriculture employers and workers.
EFI says that with record temperatures nationwide, it’s important to safeguard farmworkers’ health and safety.
EFI developed a toolkit in collaboration with farmworkers — found at equitablefood.org/heat — that includes a video for workers that explains heat exhaustion symptoms and preventable measures in Spanish, a tip sheet in both English and Spanish and a roundup of other statistics and resources, according to a news release.
The organization also notes that some states such as California, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon and Washington have comprehensive heat protection standards while other states do not, leaving millions of farmworkers vulnerable to life-threatening heat illnesses and unhealthy working conditions.
According to EFI, heat exposure contributes to up to 2,000 worker fatalities in the U.S. each year. Additionally, up to 170,000 workers suffer heat stress-related injuries annually, with workplace injuries increasing by 1% for every 1 degree Celsius rise in temperature. EFI also said a lack of heat safety measures costs the U.S. economy nearly $100 billion annually.
The organization said several practical tips can help protect workers from extreme heat dangers:
• Hydration — Encourage workers to drink plenty of water before, during and after shifts. Ensure access to cool (below 60 F), potable water.
• Rest breaks — Schedule frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas to allow workers to cool down.
• Protective clothing — Advise workers to wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing. Hats and sunglasses provide additional sun protection.
• Education —Train workers to recognize the signs of heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and to act immediately by seeking shade, water and medical attention if necessary.
“Education and voluntary compliance are vital when it comes to heat safety,” Alexandra Martinez, marketing associate for EFI, said in the release. “Farmworkers are particularly vulnerable to heat-related health risks and are 35 times more likely to die from heat-related causes compared to other workers. We’re providing simple, executable steps that can help save lives.”
