Article By: The Rutgers Farm Health and Safety Working Group: Kate Brown, Michelle Infante-Casella, Stephen Komar and William Bamka
By Heather Cooper •
The National Weather Service compiled a list of resources on “Weather Information for Agriculture”.Direct links to long range outlooks (6-10 day and 8-14 day periods) for temperature are one inclusionwhich may be relevant for on-farm planning related to heat stress prevention. Farmers may utilize other tools referenced in this resource to: Check out this link […]
Plant and Pest Advisory – Article By: The Rutgers Farm Health and Safety Working Group: Kate Brown, Michelle Infante-Casella, Stephen Komar and William Bamka – 7/7//24
By Heather Cooper •
Employee training on working in the heat may reduce risk of heat illnessby raising awareness of heat safety. OSHA has developed “A Guide forEmployers to Carry Out Heat Safety Training for Workers” whichprovides step-by-step instructions on how to engage employees inparticipatory heat safety training on three topics: 1) health effects ofheat, 2)how to respond to […]
Plant and Pest Advisory – Kate Brown – 7/21//24
By Heather Cooper •
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created anEmployerChecklist for Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Injury and Illness Preventionwhich may be utilized to identify sources of heat hazards in the workplace and respond effectively.Section1 of the checklist is designed to help employers recognize job-related heat risks while Section2 explores preparedness for heat-related injuries and illnesses. […]
Plant & Pest Advisory – The Rutgers Farm Health and Safety Working Group: Kate Brown, Michelle Infante-Casella, Stephen Komar and William Bamka – June 16, 2024
By Heather Cooper •
When it comes to hydration, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicinerecommends an adequate daily fluid intake of about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men andabout 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women. Even with this guidance, the amount varies fromperson to person. Also, when temperatures […]
Plant & Pest Advisory – May 27 , 2024 – Kate Brown
By Heather Cooper •
New workers are vulnerable to heat-related illness because they have not acclimatized to working inthe heat. Acclimatization is a physiological process that occurs when exposure to heat takes placegradually over an extended period. Once acclimatization is achieved, working in the heat results inproduction of a more dilute sweat (lower salt content) and less of an […]
Plant & Pest Advisory – June 4, 2024 – Kate Brown
By Heather Cooper •
Evaporation of sweat from skin is the body’s primary mode of temperature regulation on hot days.Clothing can impact heat and sweat production, as well as the rate of evaporation, so clothingdecisions are important to prevent heat stress. Choose lightweight, loose-fitting clothing made of a breathable fabric like cotton which allows sweatto evaporate and air to […]
Plant & Pest Advisory- May 6, 2024- Kate Brown
By Heather Cooper •
As the weather warms up, prepare yourself to evaluate the heat risk for outdoor tasks. We often use a weather application on our phone to check the daily high and low temperature, but air temperature alone is not sufficient to evaluate heat risk. Heat index is a more appropriate measurement because it combines the effects […]
Plant & Pest Advisory- May 13, 2024- Kate Brown
By Heather Cooper •
The body uses water to help dissipate heat through sweat and evaporation of sweat. Water lost as sweat must be replaced through water consumption to help the body maintain temperature regulation. During moderate activity, the CDC recommends drinking at least 1cup of water every 15-20 minutes to replace water lost through sweat. Sports drinks are […]
Plant & Pest Advisory- May 20, 2024- Kate Brown
By Heather Cooper •
Several types of heat-related illnesses can affect workers and symptoms may be non-specific. When a worker is performing physical labor in warm environments, any unusual symptom may be a sign of heat illness.The chart below from OSHA outlines symptoms and signs that may indicate heat stress. Note that common signs and symptoms include muscle pain, […]
Plant & Pest Advisory- May 9, 2024- Kate Brown
By Heather Cooper •
The New Jersey Legislature is currently reviewing identical bills (A3521/S2422) which would establish an occupational heat stress standard and “Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program” under the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development. As we monitor the progress of these bills, the Farm Health and Safety Working Group of Rutgers Cooperative Extension has […]