Heat Risk in Agriculture: A Growing Concern
Outdoor workers, especially those in agriculture, face significant hazards during high humid heat days, which are increasingly becoming a matter of concern.
United Farm Workers Vice President Elizabeth Strater highlighted the risks, stating, “Heat is one of those really, really deadly risk factors for farmworkers, and one of the reasons that farmworkers experience such high rates of illness, injury, and death on the job.”
Unlike hourly workers in other outdoor professions, farm laborers typically earn based on their harvest output, which adds another layer of complexity and pressure.
Strater explained, “These workers have … a financial incentive to push their body beyond what it’s able to endure, and they do that out of economic desperation, because farmworkers are also some of the poorest workers in the country. Farmworkers are really affected, and very much on the front lines.”
Merely staying hydrated is insufficient for preventing heat-related illnesses when humidity strikes. Workers must find ways to reduce their core body temperatures by getting out of the heat.
High humidity can also impair cognitive functions, leading to an increased risk of workplace accidents, Strater noted.
The United Farm Workers advocate for enhanced safety measures such as mandated paid breaks and access to adequate shade to be included in federal regulations.
“Protection against heat isn’t rocket science,” emphasized Strater. “We know what it takes to keep workers alive in high heat: They need shade, they need paid rest breaks… they need training and information, not only as to what the danger signs are, but what their rights are. And they still do have a right to refuse unsafe work.”
Trudeau, a scientist with Climate Central, pointed out that focusing solely on temperature neglects the peril posed by humidity. “It’s this hidden danger that you can’t really tell just from a thermometer,” she said.
This article was created in collaboration with Harvest Public Media, a network of public media newsrooms in the Midwest and Great Plains reporting on agriculture, food systems, and rural issues.
