Labor Officials Remind Farmers About Heat Safety

Source from:  By: Brandi Davis & Web Staff rdu.news14.com 07/26/2005

The North Carolina Labor Department is investigating the death of a migrant farm worker near Lillington in Harnett County. Labor officials said the 56-year-old man collapsed in a field while working in a tobacco field in 90 degree heat. The incident is raising awareness of farm worker safety. For Paul Billinger the work day is long and hot. After years of working on a tobacco farm in rural Hoke County, he knows the dangers that high temperatures pose and what he needs to do to avoid getting sick "Take your time and drink your water," he said. "If you get to hot sit down and relax. It gets hot but I'll stop. You see me sweating now." Unfortunately, not everyone escapes the dangers of the heat. Last week's death is why the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service has put certain measures in place. "Our private applicators and farmers are required to have pesticides training," Keith Walters of the cooperative extension explained. "As part of that training we have a segment on heat related illness and how to prevent them." There are a number of things farmers can do to keep their workers safe. Walters said, "Providing adequate water, shade, and frequent breaks. Also acclimating workers to the heat. In other words don't start the day in 100 degrees temperatures." Billinger said it's important for other workers to know that if it gets to hot its okay for them to stop. "If I'm working on something and I start getting hot, I'll walk off for a few minutes," he said. "Between the heat and the work it aggravates you. That can make you overheat yourself. So I just walk off for a few minutes, and come back and get the job done." The North Carolina Labor Department conducts spot checks on various farms to make sure they are following the rules. Officials there said while this is an important job these workers are doing, it's not worth their life. The North Carolina Labor Department expects to complete its investigation into the death of the Harnett County migrant worker by the end of the week. Enditem