Rural Health & Safety

The California Farm Bureau's Rural Health and Safety Department provides guidance on health and safety issues affecting California's agricultural businesses, producers, families and employees.

Heat illness prevention

The well-being of our workforce is a priority for all California farmers. Heat illness is a health and safety issue that farmers and ranchers have been concerned about for many years. Farmers recognize the potential risks of heat exposure, just as employers do in construction, manufacturing and other industries where heat is an issue. We take the necessary steps to protect our employees, not only from heat illness but from other potential health and safety hazards as well.

Here are some basic tips for heat illness prevention:

• Drink small amounts of water frequently
• Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink
• Take advantage of shade-and-rest breaks
• Start work earlier in the day, to avoid the afternoon heat
• Know how to recognize the symptoms of heat illness, such as poor concentration, cramping, fatigue, blurry vision, headache, dizziness, nausea, etc.
• If you notice heat illness symptoms in yourself or a co-worker, have the victim stop working, find shade, loosen clothing, get fluids, and fan the body with any item available
• Serious fluid loss can lead to heat stroke, which is an emergency - if this happens, seek medical help right away

Download
Heat Stress Brochure (PDF, 1.8 MB)

Heat Illness Resources

• Ag Alert: Farmers take precautions to protect workers from heat (8/20/08)
• Ag Alert: Cal/OSHA chief clarifies requirements of heat standard (8/20/08)
• Ag Alert: Farmers need extra protection in the sun (5/21/08)
• California Division of Occupational Safety and Health
• University of California, Agricultural and Resource Economics
• State Fund: Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses
• State Fund: Safe Practices for Workers in Hot Environments
• Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• National Agricultural Safety Database: Outdoor Action Guide to Heat-Related Illnesses & Fluid Balance
• National Safety Council

Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS) subscribers have access to heat illness information and other safety sheets on line. For more information on a FELS subscription, go to www.fels.org or call (800) 753-9073.

For more information contact the Health and Safety Department at (916) 561-5590.