New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Joins NYCAMH for Heat Illness Presentation

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) today announced that they are hosting a new webinar for farm owners and workers focused on the prevention of heat illness. The webinar will take place on Thursday, August 1, 2024, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. The informational session will include presentations from experts from NYCAMH, Cornell University’s Workforce Development Program, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) program and will be moderated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

NYCAMH Deputy Director Dr. Erika Scott said, “The frequency of extreme heat events in our state is increasing, which puts workers at greater risk of heat-related illness. We want to ensure the agricultural industry has access the latest updates on the newly proposed federal heat rule along with practical heat-illness prevention strategies.”

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “We’re pleased to support NYCAMH in this important educational opportunity. This summer has been exceptionally hot with temperatures expected to remain above normal for the rest of the season into the fall. It’s extremely important that the industry continues to be vigilant and take the necessary precautions during these extremely hot periods to ensure that all workers are doing all they can to stay safe.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), extreme heat is increasing in the United States and is projected to be more frequent and intense. An extreme heat event/incident is often defined as three or more days with abnormally high heat exceeding 90 degrees.

The webinar will cover topics such as current and upcoming heat standards; new OSHA proposed rules and workforce considerations; signs, symptoms, and first aid for heat illness; and prevention strategies, including resources available to farm workers.

The webinar will conclude with a question-and-answer session. To register for the webinar, please visit this link.

NYCAMH, a program of Bassett Healthcare Network, is enhancing agricultural and rural health by preventing and treating occupational injury. With a $1.35 million investment through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, as part of the 2024-25 New York State Budget, NYCAMH has been able to expand its services for the agricultural community this year.

This is the organization's first funding increase in 15 years. The additional investment allows for continued stable operations, program expansion, and continued funding for popular farmer cost-sharing programs such as the John May Farm Safety Fund and the ROPS rebate program for tractor rollover bars.