New Jersey Farm Bureau News

This month, the Murphy Administration released an expansive plan that sets specific actions to be taken by agencies across state government to protect the health and welfare of residents from the impacts of extreme heat caused by a changing climate.

Click here to read more.

Agricultural employers are encouraged to take precautions during extreme heat conditions.  There are numerous online resources that provide recommendations to limit the risk of heat stress. 

Rutgers Cooperative Extension resources for heat stress prevention.

• NJAES Factsheet #747: Preventing Heat Stress in Agriculture, updated and published May 2024
• Weekly “Beat the Heat” articles posted to the Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory e-Newsletter

OSHA resources for heat stress prevention:

• OSHA website that provides information for employers, recommendations for planning first aid, prevention, risk factors etc. Heat – Overview: Working in Outdoor and Indoor Heat Environments
• Prevent heat illness at work poster, available in Englishand Spanish
• Prevent heat illness at work pamphlet, available in 21 languages

• OSHA Heat Illness Prevention website, clearinghouse for information and resources on occupational heat stress mitigation

Temperature resources:

• The OSHA-NIOSH heat safety tool is a useful resource for planning outdoor work activities based on how hot it feels throughout the day. It has a real-time heat index and hourly forecasts specific to your location. It also provides occupational safety and health recommendations from OSHA and NIOSH. NIOSH/OSHA Heat Safety Tool phone app, available for iPhone and Android in English and Spanish

• National Weather Service Tools https://digital.weather.gov/(see dropdown menu for various predictive displays)
  • Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (°F)
  • Heat Risk Experimental
• Heat index calculator (National Weather Service) Heat Index Calculation (noaa.gov)

Very concerning legislation regarding worker protection and heat stress is currently going through the New Jersey Legislature.   All NJFB members are encouraged to use one of the following methods to contact their legislators to ask them to OPPOSE these bills (S.2422, A.3521).  

You can call state Senator and Assembly members.  Phone numbers can be found here.

You can send your own personal email, and you can find your legislators’ email contact forms using this link.

If you prefer to use a pre-written email that NJFB has prepared for you, click here to use our Advocacy Action Center.

The following information may be helpful to you, as you prepare to contact your legislators:

NJFB_heat stress talking points

NJFB_Memo to Assembly Labor Committee 5-13-24 HEAT STRESS

NJFB_heat stress bill challenges

The first consideration of a bill (S2422/A3521) to establish an occupational heat stress standard was heard in the Senate Labor Committee on Monday this week. The Senate bill is sponsored by Sen. Joe Cryan (D-Union). The first group called to testify was NJ Farm Bureau, where newly appointed legislative coordinator Ashley Kerr with President Allen Carter in attendance announced NJFB’s opposition to the bill for its sheer impracticality, costs and industrial workplace-oriented standards that does not fit ag circumstances. Labor Committee member Sen. Paul Moriarty  immediately echoed those concerns, saying he had been contacted by local farmers in his district about the bill’s  impact to farmers. It was later agreed that the sponsor would meet with Farm Bureau representatives to review agriculture’s position. Chairman Joe Lagana commented that he hoped the sponsor “would work things through” with the farm sector.

Other groups weighed in pro and con after the NJFB testimony. Also opposed were the State Chamber of Commerce, NJ Business and Industry Association, National Federation of Independent Business and others. Opponents wondered how the heat stress restrictions would be managed by public employees like Corrections, road departments, law enforcement; the fines and penalties also drew strong objections. Groups in favor were labor
unions and worker advocacy groups. The bill eventually cleared the committee 4-0 and sent for “second reference” to the Senate Budget Committee.

Click here to read an NJFB-prepared a summary of the bill.