Spanish growers urged to tighten heat-safety measures during harvest season

AVA-ASAJA has warned farmers and field workers to step up heat-risk prevention as Spain enters a harvest season expected to be hotter than usual.

The Valencian farmers’ association said forecasts from the Spanish meteorological agency AEMET point to a high probability of average temperatures falling in the upper range for June, July and August 2026. The warning is especially relevant for agricultural work, where many tasks are carried out outdoors and often under direct sun.

AVA-ASAJA said extreme heat should be treated as both a health and workplace-safety risk. It urged farms to plan tasks carefully, adjust working hours where possible and avoid the most physically demanding jobs during the central hours of the day.

The organisation also reminded producers that heat stress is not only linked to air temperature. Humidity, solar radiation, air movement, physical effort, the length of the working day and the type of clothing used can all increase the risk.

Recommended measures include scheduling work during cooler hours, drinking water frequently even before feeling thirsty, avoiding caffeine and very sugary drinks, taking regular breaks in shaded or cool areas, and wearing light, breathable, pale-coloured clothing.

AVA-ASAJA also called for attention to warning signs such as confusion, disorientation, hot and dry skin, a fast pulse, nausea, severe headache or loss of consciousness, which may indicate heatstroke and require urgent action.

source and graphics: avaasaja.org