With summer approaching, California agricultural employers should begin preparing now for heat-related risks in the workplace. Cal/OSHA continues to prioritize heat illness prevention through enforcement, outreach, and education, including the work of its Agricultural Enforcement Task Force. 

California’s heat illness prevention rules remain among the most rigorous in the nation. Outdoor heat illness prevention requirements apply when temperatures exceed 80°F, while indoor heat standards generally apply when temperatures reach 82°F. For many agricultural operations, that means both field and facility worksites may be subject to separate but overlapping obligations during the summer months. 

Employers should use the weeks ahead to review and update their Heat Illness Prevention Plan, confirm supervisor training is current, and ensure employees know how to recognize and report symptoms of heat illness. Water, shade, cool-down rest procedures, emergency response protocols, and high-heat practices should all be revisited before temperatures spike. 

Operations with packinghouses, warehouses, or other indoor environments should also assess ventilation, cooling methods, temperature monitoring, and employee access to recovery areas. Employers conducting nighttime agricultural operations should confirm compliance with any applicable safety requirements tied to those shifts. 

Cal/OSHA’s Agricultural Enforcement Task Force focuses on agricultural workplace safety and enforcement, with heat illness prevention remaining a key seasonal priority. Employers should expect active enforcement during the summer, particularly during high-heat events. 

To support compliance, Cal/OSHA offers a broad suite of free resources, including model written programs, guidance materials, multilingual education tools, comparison charts for indoor and outdoor heat standards, and statewide trainings offered in English and Spanish. Additional materials are available through 99calor, which provides worker-focused heat safety resources. 

Agricultural employers with questions or who want proactive assistance may contact Cal/OSHA Consultation Services at 800-963-9424. Taking preventive steps now can help reduce risk, avoid citations, and protect employees during the hottest months of the year.