Staying Safe in Hot Weather

As the Northeast experiences more extreme weather, heat stress is a growing concern for farmers and farm workers. Because they spend significant time outdoors doing physically demanding work, this population is particularly vulnerable to heat-related health effects.

Crop workers average four heat-related deaths per one million workers per year, 20 times higher than the rate for overall U.S. workers.¹ Moreover, the rate of serious illness short of death is far greater. Given the risk factors involved, heat illnesses are quite common in agriculture, and it is incumbent on farm operators to take these risks seriously.

Here are several groups who may have higher risks of heat illness:

Older workers
Individuals with certain medical conditions or on certain medications, such as heart problems, pregnancy, obesity or other medical conditions
Individuals unaccustomed to heat or in poor physical condition
Individuals working in areas of high temperatures and humidity levels and poor airflow (i.e. some greenhouses or warehouses)

There are, however, a number of steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of heat-related illness:

Wear light-colored, lightweight, breathable clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat.
Drink water! Drink approximately 8 oz of water every 15-30 minutes. Do not wait until you are thirsty as this is a lagging indicator of dehydration.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Pace yourself, take breaks as needed.
Consider scheduling the most strenuous work outside of midday, especially any tasks that require PPE, such as coveralls. Individuals spraying pesticides may be especially vulnerable.
Gradually acclimate to working in the heat. For new employees, limit their exposure to extreme temps for the first week.
Observe employees for heat-related problems. Sometimes heat stress is more apparent to observers than to the individuals themselves, or workers may push themselves beyond safe limits.

Work still needs to get done, and it can sometimes be difficult to determine the difference between discomfort due to hot weather, and the beginnings of a more serious situation.

Here are some best practices:

Train workers on how to recognize and mitigate heat illnesses.
If a worker feels lightheaded, dizzy or faints, move the person to a cooler place and have them sit or lie down if possible. Give them plenty of cool water. Seek medical care if their condition worsens or does not improve after resting. Have a protocol for workers in this situation, and make sure there is a responsible supervisor who can call for help if needed.
A body temperature at or exceeding 103 degrees requires immediate medical attention; temperatures of 108 or greater are often fatal.
- Other symptoms of severe heat illness include hot and red skin, elevated heart rate, confusion, vomiting, headache, and nausea. Sometimes an affected person will feel unnaturally cold and clammy.
Keep in mind that people’s heat tolerance varies. What is tolerable for one person may be dangerous for another. Take any heat-related complaints seriously.
Provide adequate cool potable water at all times and encourage workers to hydrate.
Check on workers frequently in hot weather.
Take more frequent breaks as temperatures climb and provide shade if possible.
Some workers may be reluctant to take a break even when suffering from heat illness. If a worker exhibits symptoms of heat illness, insist that they stop working.
Change work schedules, if possible, when the heat index exceeds 100 degrees.