Everyone goes home the way they came.

Last reviewed: September 17, 2026

Heat illness prevention

Heat illness can go from a headache to an emergency fast. Our written heat plan is in English and Spanish, and every crew member and supervisor is trained on it before working in the heat.

What you can count on

• Water: cool, clean and free, placed as close to the work as possible, with enough for about 4 cups per hour for everyone.
• Shade: up at 80°F and above, and any time a worker asks for it.
• Cool-down rests: take one whenever you need it. You'll be watched and asked how you feel, and you won't be sent back to work until you feel better.
• At 95°F and above: pre-shift meetings, buddy checks and a paid 10-minute cool-down at least every 2 hours (it can line up with your regular rest break). If a required cool-down is missed, you are owed an extra hour of pay.
• Emergency response: every crew has someone authorized to call 911 and clear directions to the field, so help can find you.

Know the signs

Headache, dizziness, cramps, heavy sweating or no sweating, nausea, confusion. If you feel any of these — or see them in someone else — tell your supervisor right away and get into the shade.

Greenhouses & packing houses

Enclosed greenhouses and packing sheds fall under Cal/OSHA's indoor heat rule. When it reaches 82°F inside, we provide water, cool-down areas and heat training. When the temperature or heat index hits 87°F — or 82°F when workers wear heavy protective clothing or work near hot equipment — the site owner and Ceres put cooling measures in place, such as fans, misters, ventilation, shifted schedules or more breaks.

Pesticide safety

• Every field worker and handler completes pesticide safety (WPS) training every year, before starting work, in a language they understand.
• Crews stay out of treated fields until the restricted-entry interval is over, and never enter an area while it's being sprayed.
• California's pesticide safety leaflets (A-8 and A-9) are posted at the worksite, and supervisors will read them aloud on request.
• You can ask to see pesticide application records and safety data sheets for the fields you work in.
• Decontamination supplies — water, soap and towels — are at the field, and if someone may have been exposed, we get them to medical care.

Water, toilets & handwashing

Clean toilets and handwashing stations are provided in the field — at least one of each for every 20 workers, within a quarter-mile or a 5-minute walk. Use them any time you need to. Clean hands also protect the food we harvest.

Wildfire smoke

When the air quality index for fine particles reaches 151 or higher, we offer N95 respirators and adjust work where we can. California farmworkers can also use paid sick leave to avoid work during a declared emergency caused by smoke, extreme heat or flooding.

Rides & vehicles

• Farm labor vehicles are inspected and certified by the California Highway Patrol every year.
• Every passenger gets a working seat belt — and wears it.
• Drivers are licensed for the vehicle, medically certified and trained.
• Vehicles display our company name and license number, and the pay rates for the job are posted in English and Spanish.

See an unsafe vehicle? Tell the office — or call the CHP at 1-800-TELL-CHP.

Ladders, tools & gear

Ladders and tools are checked before use, and workers are trained on ladder safety, knife and shear handling, and working around tractors, transplanters and forklifts. Gloves, and any other protective equipment a job requires, are provided at no cost.

Speak up — no retaliation

If something feels unsafe, stop and tell your supervisor or call the office. You will not be punished for reporting a safety problem. You can also contact Cal/OSHA or the California Labor Commissioner directly, in Spanish or English. Our Policies page lists how.