WEEK #4

Worker Training Requirements, Safety Equipment, and Emergency Planning 

1. Worker Training Requirements   

Worker training documentation has been a frequently missed item in the 2024 season. The standard was updated in November of 2023 to require worker safety training to be conducted annually and must include: the farm worker’s name, signature, and signature date (i.e. training date). Find the revised worker training record here.

If any of the required information is missing, the question will be marked incorrectly and is subject to remediation. If worker interviews are required for your operation, the auditor will ask questions during worker interviews to verify workers have been trained. 

Critical Standards:

• Heat stress
• Farm safety, including farm equipment safety
• Carbon monoxide poisoning prevention (if applicable)
• Pesticide safety and personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS)
• Emergency response procedures
• Recognition of REI
• Storage, handling, application, and disposal of CPAs
• Required worker protection standard training
• NTRM prevention
• First Aid 

Additional Standards

• Proper baling and market separation of tobacco
• For air-cured and fire-cured operations only, grade separation

GAP Connections has several resources to make training and documentation easy for growers! 

1. Use GAPC record templates to document all required training
2. Purchase Safety DVD or Tailgate Training Kits from the GAPC Store
3. Watch safety training videos on Youtube
4. Download for free the Worker Training Guides from our website (also available in the GAPC Store)
5. Schedule a customized On-Farm Farmworker Training session with GAPC. There is still time to utilize the cost-share program and receive 50% off farmworker training! 

2. Safety Equipment 

Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be evaluated based on availability and tasks performed by workers. For example, if workers are not mixing, handling, or spraying crop protectants, the workers would not be required to have the CPA PPE. 

At time of monitoring visit, auditors will visually inspect and verify in worker interviews that proper safety equipment is being supplied. 

Critical Standards:

• Use label required PPE by applicators/handlers/early entry workers
• Gloves and water-resistant clothing for workers working with wet tobacco
• Chemical resistant gloves for anyone handling or applying CPA's
• Chemical resistant aprons for anyone mixing or loading CPA's
• Chemical resistant footwear for anyone mixing or loading CPA's
• Safety glasses for workers applying or handling CPA's or performing jobs which can create flying objects that damage eyes such as grinding, sawing, driving nails, etc.
• Hearing protection equipment for workers operating machinery or power tools
• Dust masks for workers handling cured tobacco or operating machinery or power tools under dusty conditions 

Additional Standards:  

• Have adequately maintained farm vehicles, machinery, and tools with the originally installed guards, shields or other protections as per manual/guidance provided by manufacturer or dealer of equipment
• Have adequate first aid equipment for the number of workers for the tobacco operation
  • First aid kit present and available at edge of field when workers are working in the field 
    First aid present and available within the facility or in a vehicle within 200 feet of the facility in case of curing barns, greenhouses, market preparation areas, machinery sheds, etc. whenever workers are preforming work tasks there
  • First aid kit available in vehicles used to transport workers on the farm
• Have fire extinguishers available within 200 feet of curing barns when workers are present

3. Emergency and Disaster Planning

If you currently do not have a written emergency plan you can use the GAPC record templates to create a written emergency plan. The template will walk growers through the steps of creating an emergency plan and the templates are provided for important numbers, a farm roster and emergency plans for medical, fire, and weather related emergencies. Use of GAPC templates is not required as other formats are acceptable but must meet the requirements as stated below. 

Critical Standards: 

• Do you have a dedicated emergency contact person for all workers?
• Do you provide your workers with access to emergency medical services (EMS)?
• Do you have a written emergency plan for your workers in case of medical emergencies, fires, or weather events, that includes, at minimum, a list of important numbers for emergency services and the location of a safe shelter on the farm or an evacuation plan that leads workers to a safe location in case of weather events? 

Additional Standard:

• Do you have anyone on your farm that is certified in first aid/CPR/AED training? 

Have questions while preparing for your monitoring visit? 

 Call the GAPC Office at 865.622.4606 or email info@gapconnections.com

GAPC Staff are available Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm EST

Please leave a message if we are not available - only calls with messages will be returned.

www.gapconnections.com | 865.622.4606 | info@gapconnections.com

2450 E.J. Chapman Drive Knoxville, TN 37996

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2450 E.J. Chapman Drive | Knoxville, TN 37996 US

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