July 3, 2017
The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (SCCAHS) is partnering with other U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Centers to share critical information for farming, fishing and forestry industries in a campaign to prevent heat illness and deaths in agriculture.
Summer 2017 Beat the Heat is a campaign sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/CDC to educate employers and safety specialists to prepare for the agriculture season by educating operators and workers.
Farming, fishing and forestry workers are at particular risk for heat illness because of exertional heat stress. Like athletes, during hard work, heat is built-up in the body. This, plus the external (environmental) sources, can cause heat-related illnesses. Heat illness occurs when the body can no longer cope and the body’s physical and mental functions break down.
Most important to know is that heat illnesses and deaths are preventable. Key information on the following topics will be available during the Beat the Heat campaign at the National Ag Safety Database (http://www.nasdonline.org/):
The University of Florida is the lead institution of SCCAHS, partnering with the University of South Florida, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, Emory University and the University of the Virgin Islands.
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