Equitable Food Initiative Shares Tips for Sun Safety; LeAnne Ruzzamenti Shares
WASHINGTON, DC - Earlier this month, we reported on the high temperatures that are impacting parts of California, Arizona, and Nevada, and how those weather patterns could impact the ag industry. With that in mind, Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) is providing a downloadable tip sheet to communicate the dangers and symptoms of heat and sun exposure for workers and farming operations, which is available in English and Spanish here.
“The statistics are staggering,” stated LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Director of Marketing and Communications for EFI. “Keeping our agriculture workers safe year-round is a priority, and employers need to take special steps during the busiest and hottest time of the year to ensure that.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, agriculture workers are some of the most vulnerable to sun and heat exposure due to long hours worked during the hottest days of the year. In fact, a press release stated that they are at least 35 times more likely to die of heat than other workers.
With much of our industry’s production and harvest occurring between April and September, ag workers need to know how to protect themselves from heat and sun exposure and the symptoms of heat-related stress and illness. The risks include sunburn, burns from hot equipment, and dizziness from heat leading to falls or other accidents. Common symptoms of heat stroke and exhaustion can include headaches, dizziness, heavy sweating, and muscle cramps or pain.
“The recent news of workers suffering heat-related illnesses and death should be a concern for everyone,” Ruzzamenti remarked. “Our farmworkers are the most vital link to our food supply.”
The press release noted that EFI has helped form and train worker management collaborative teams for 25 grower-shipper companies on more than 60 farming operations. Through its certification program, more than 4,000 farmworkers and managers have been trained in problem-solving, communication, and conflict-resolution strategies.
Be sure to check out EFI’s tip sheet above, and stay safe out there.
