Ahead of high temperatures, farmers in the Salinas Valley were reminding agricultural workers of the dangers the heat can bring. Norm Groot, with Monterey County Farm Bureau, said the state requires employers to provide a safe, shaded area, plenty of water, and extra breaks for workers when temperatures reach 80 degrees or higher. “Foreman and supervisors are trained to recognize the symptoms of heat illness so that if something does happen in the field, and they recognize that a worker is distressed that they can react and get medical help as soon as possible,” Groot said. Some heat-related illness symptoms could include “if you’re feeling sweaty, your head hurts, you’re having cramps, you’re vomiting, you feel weak,” said Antonio Acosta with Alba Farms. “If you have any symptoms right away, you’re supposed to talk to your supervisor immediately to get assistance.”Employers said the workers should also prepare for the heat the night before by staying hydrated. “There are responsibilities that we as employers need to take, but there’s also ownership that each of the employees has to take,” said Jason Smith with Valley Farm Management. Growers are also worried the heat will hurt the crops, but they said they are preparing ahead of the heat wave. Acosta said some growers work overnight or early morning hours to avoid the heat. They also plan to harvest their crops a day before to reduce damage to the crops and employees. They even use technology and robots to cut their harvesting time. But ahead of the hot days, farmers and employees said the most important thing is to remember the heat-related training and to be on the lookout for symptoms of an illness.
Ahead of high temperatures, farmers in the Salinas Valley were reminding agricultural workers of the dangers the heat can bring.
Norm Groot, with Monterey County Farm Bureau, said the state requires employers to provide a safe, shaded area, plenty of water, and extra breaks for workers when temperatures reach 80 degrees or higher.
“Foreman and supervisors are trained to recognize the symptoms of heat illness so that if something does happen in the field, and they recognize that a worker is distressed that they can react and get medical help as soon as possible,” Groot said.
Some heat-related illness symptoms could include “if you’re feeling sweaty, your head hurts, you’re having cramps, you’re vomiting, you feel weak,” said Antonio Acosta with Alba Farms. “If you have any symptoms right away, you’re supposed to talk to your supervisor immediately to get assistance.”
Employers said the workers should also prepare for the heat the night before by staying hydrated.
“There are responsibilities that we as employers need to take, but there’s also ownership that each of the employees has to take,” said Jason Smith with Valley Farm Management.
Growers are also worried the heat will hurt the crops, but they said they are preparing ahead of the heat wave.
Acosta said some growers work overnight or early morning hours to avoid the heat. They also plan to harvest their crops a day before to reduce damage to the crops and employees. They even use technology and robots to cut their harvesting time.
But ahead of the hot days, farmers and employees said the most important thing is to remember the heat-related training and to be on the lookout for symptoms of an illness.
