WASHINGTON – As Extreme Heat Awareness Month is underway, Equitable Food Initiative is offering resources and reminding agricultural employers and workers of the critical importance of heat safety and prevention of sun and heat illnesses. With record temperatures soaring nationwide and labor-intensive planting and harvesting activities peaking, safeguarding farmworkers’ health and safety is of the utmost importance.
EFI has developed a toolkit in collaboration with farmworkers that can be found at equitablefood.org/heat and 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 round-up of other statistics and resources.
There are varying levels of heat protection regulations across the United States. Some states, such as California, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, have enacted comprehensive heat protection standards. However, many have not, leaving millions of farmworkers, many who are already disproportionately at risk, vulnerable to life-threatening heat illnesses and unhealthy working conditions.
“Education and voluntary compliance are vital when it comes to heat safety,” explains Alexandra Martinez, marketing associate for EFI. “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.”
Heat exposure contributes to up to 2,000 worker fatalities in the United States each year. Additionally, up to 170,000 workers suffer heat stress-related injuries annually, with workplace injuries increasing by 1% for every 1° Celsius rise in temperature. Failure to implement simple heat safety measures also has a significant economic impact, costing the U.S. economy nearly $100 billion annually.
EFI’s resources highlight several practical tips to help protect workers from extreme heat dangers, covering key topics such as:
- Hydration: Encourage workers to drink plenty of water before, during and after their 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.
EFI remains committed to promoting safe and healthy working conditions across the agricultural sector. By adopting comprehensive heat safety practices, employers can protect their workers and enhance their reputation as employers of choice, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
Learn more about EFI’s tools and resources and about how EFI certification can help your company improve workplace heat safety strategies at equitablefood.org.
About EFI
Equitable Food Initiative is a capacity-building and certification nonprofit that works to improve the lives of farmworkers and drive business performance by integrating worker voice and engagement throughout the supply chain. As a multistakeholder organization, EFI brings together growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumers to create assessment, training and organizational development programs that support continuous improvement and address the industry’s most pressing problems. For more information about Equitable Food Initiative, visit equitablefood.org.
