Heat Illness

Prevention of heat illness is a current priority for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as New York State. Farmworkers are at increased risk of heat illness due to exposure to high temperatures working outdoors and the physical demands of work tasks. Good actions to take to prevent heat illness are:

Allow time for acclimatization for yourself or others as you begin the season or adjust to working in the heat
Plan ahead by checking the weather and heat risk for the day, and whenever possible, adjust your workday to avoid working in the hottest parts of the day
Set reminders to hydrate and make sure you hydrate with the right fluids
Dress appropriately with clothing that is breathable and does not increase your body heat
Take frequent breaks and rotate work when possible
Know the signs and symptoms of heat illnesses and treat early signs to prevent progression to life threatening level.

How NYCAMH can help

Farm Safety Services

Schedule a safety training with our safety specialists on heat illness prevention and sun safety topics for your workforce, contact NYCAMH with questions that you have about keeping your workforce safe in the heat, or schedule a farm safety walkthrough to identify ways to improve your work environment or processes to help prevent heat illness.

Financial Assistance

Eligible farmers are encouraged to apply for funding for worker safety upgrades that mitigate the effects of heat and sun through our John May Farm Safety Fund grant program. Financial assistance for the cost of installing sun canopies on certified rollbars is also available for farmers through the National ROPS Rebate Program.

Print Materials

Heat Illness and Prevention Field Guide

NEW! This resource features information about symptoms of heat illness, practical prevention strategies to use on your farm, emergency response preparation, and pockets you can use to hold industry recommendations and farm-specific policies. Contact us to request print copies.