Heat Safety Resources for Farmers and Managers

Heat Safety Resources for Farmers, May 2025 

Explore the resources below for information regarding heat health and safety best practices for farms. These materials were compiled as part of CISA’s 2024-25 Adapt your Farm to Climate Change workshop series.

Click here to review a recording and slides from our webinar presented by Sarah Janes Ugoretz of University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, which discussed proposed OSHA regulations regarding heat safety, best practices for farm managers, and strategies for effective communication. Webinar audio is available in Spanish here.

CISA is available to provide guidance and assist your heat safety planning. Email or call the Climate Program at climate@buylocalfood.org/413-665-7100 ext. 17 to request support. 

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2023-70027-40447. 

Best Practices:  

• OSHA heat illness prevention website: Visit OSHA’s hub for heat safety resources for farmers and workers, including information about employer responsibilities and recommended training materials. 
• Symptoms and first aid: Recognize signs and symptoms of various heat-related conditions and how to respond to a health emergency. 
• Hot Potato Resource Library from Not Our Farm: Explore resources such as template SOPs for hot weather and work/break schedules. 
• Heat Risk to Workers from Agricultural Justice Project: Read recommendations for navigating risk from extreme heat and wildfire smoke. 
• Staying Safe While Working in Smoke and Fire Conditions: Best practices and questions to consider for handling heat and poor air quality. 

Videos & Webinar Recordings: 

• Hot Potato Video from Not Our Farm: Watch a video compilation of farmers’ heat safety strategies (including some local folks!). 
• Free School for Farmworkers Video & Slides: Staying Safe and Caring for your Crew in Extreme Heat 
• Heat Illness Prevention Presentation: Heat safety webinar available in Spanish 

Tools for monitoring heat:  

• OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool on iphone and android: download the app to monitor daily weather conditions, receive recommendations for safe practices at various temperature thresholds, and find clear guidance on symptoms and first aid. 
• Heat stress calculator: Determine levels of heat stress under various conditions. 

Printable Resources: 

• OSHA materials for print: Print heat safety posters and fact sheets to post at the workplace or distribute to employees, available in both English and Spanish. 
• 99 Calor resources: View or print materials from California-based heat education initiative, available in English and Spanish. Useful resources include a Supervisor’s Daily Checklist for the Worksite (English, Spanish) and a guide for training employees (English, Spanish). 

• Cooling Foods poster: Fun illustrated poster with tips and recipes to stay cooler and hydrated. 

Tools for heat safety planning: 

• Employer Checklist: Use this checklist to identify sources of heat risk in your workplace. 
• Heat illness prevention manuals: See two examples of customizable heat prevention plans, including workplace protocols for monitoring heat and responding to emergencies – Heat Prevention Plan template from OSHA and Heat Illness Prevention Procedure Manual from UC Davis. 

Information on OSHA proposed rule: 

• Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Rule: Review rulemaking process and rule text here. 
• Exploring OSHA’s proposed heat rule: Read Sarah Janes Ugoretz’s article summarizing the new heat rule, and highlighting perspectives from farmers and farmworkers.