By Jay Canzonier

In Culture Starts in the Toilet!, Mary Lewis makes a great case for why bathroom etiquette and expectations should be a core part of employee onboarding. She offers practical tips for communicating the dos and don’ts, especially when navigating cultural differences around bathroom use. It’s a reminder that even the most basic human needs are deeply tied to the workplace experience.

If you’re reading this, chances are you have high-performing employees who bring professionalism and purpose every day. Each time they clock in, they’re making a trade: their time, energy, and expertise for something they believe is worth it. That’s a value proposition, and if you want them to keep investing in your farm, you need to invest in them. Professionalism is a two-way street — and it starts with the everyday details that show your team they’re respected, supported, and valued.

One of the most overlooked yet clearest indicators of respect and professionalism on farms? The bathroom. Yes, really. In the field, at the farmstead, or in employee housing, the condition of your restroom facilities sends a powerful message. It reflects your expectations for workplace standards and your commitment to employee well-being. If we expect performance, we must provide the facilities to support it.

Farm Bathroom Checklist

✅Safety: Ensure bathrooms are structurally sound, clean, and hazard-free to prevent   slips, contamination, and exposure to unsafe conditions.

✅Hygiene: Stock restrooms with toilet paper, running water, soap, hand-drying                    supplies, and waste bins to support proper sanitation.

✅Health: Establish regular cleaning and maintenance routines to minimize the risk of         illness and promote a healthy work environment.

✅Privacy: Design bathroom spaces to offer comfort, security, and dignity for all        users.

✅Respect: Provide facilities that meet the diverse needs of your workforce.

The old “make it do or do without” mindset doesn’t cut it anymore when it comes to farm bathroom standards. Our farming forebearers may have endured with less, but today’s workforce expects and deserves better. If you want to build a farm culture that attracts and retains the motivated employees you need, start with the basics. Visit the bathroom facilities in all the corners of your farm. Then ask yourself: Would I want to use this bathroom?

The article Rethinking Farm Professionalism from the Bathroom Up was posted in the Ag Workforce Journal. By Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.

As we “spring forward” this weekend for daylight savings, it’s the perfect time to also check your smoke alarm batteries. In farm-provided employee housing, safety is a top priority and ensuring smoke alarms are working properly can make all the difference in an emergency. Don’t wait—take a few extra minutes to change those batteries and protect your families and coworkers year-round. 

The following information from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is to help make sure all smoke alarms have working batteries, accounting for the multiple types of smoke alarms on the market and their varying battery requirements: 

• Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away. 

• Smoke alarms with any other type of battery need a new battery at least once a year. If that alarm chirps, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away. 

• When replacing a battery, follow manufacturer’s list of batteries on the back of the alarm or manufacturer’s instructions. Manufacturer’s instructions are specific to the batteries (brand and model) that must be used. The smoke alarm may not work properly if a different kind of battery is used.

By Jay Canzonier, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.
The post Change your clocks, change your batteries appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.

Every year in the United States hundreds of people perish, and tens of thousands are treated in emergency rooms for accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. In recent weeks, there have been reports both locally and nationally where carbon monoxide poisoning has been the cause for tragedies that could have been avoided with awareness, and preparation.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas released from incomplete combustion of fuels from man-made sources, such as vehicle engines, and from natural occurrences such as forest and brush fires. It is nearly undetectable by humans because it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

Dangers

Carbon monoxide, when inhaled, prevents oxygen from attaching to the blood, and disrupts the release of oxygen already in the blood, preventing oxygen from entering tissues. This severely effects the organs that need oxygen the most like our brains and hearts. Immediate medical treatment is critical. Even low doses of carbon monoxide over a period of time will produce symptoms that mimic a cold or flulike symptoms.  If you feel better once you are away from the enclosed area (home or workspace) carbon monoxide poisoning should be considered.

If you witness someone suffering from any of these symptoms, CALL 911, and use extreme caution so you too do not become a victim.

• Altered level of consciousness
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Impaired judgement
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures

Sources

• Machinery and vehicles with engines.
• Fuel burning appliances such as furnaces, water heaters, stoves, and fireplaces.
• Gas, oil, and propane fired space heaters.

Prevention

• Proper ventilation when using carbon monoxide producing appliances.
• Never use cooking ovens or stovetops for home heating.
• Have all heating systems and chimneys inspected and serviced annually.
• Follow instructions and warnings for indoor heaters.
• Do not run engines in a building without proper ventilation.

Detection

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends carbon monoxide detectors be installed:

• On every occupiable floor including the basement
• In each bedroom, or outside the bedroom but within 15 feet of the bedroom door.
• In every bedroom that contains a fuel burning appliance (fireplace, gas fired heater, etc.)
• At a height of at least five feet from the ground or floor level
• Always check for additional local requirements.

It is up to you to make carbon monoxide safety a priority – awareness and preparedness are the best defense against tragedy. Act now to ensure your family and employees are safe from this terrible threat.

Print these safety sheets from NFPA to increase awareness on your farm:

English

NFPA CO Safety Sheet – English

Spanish

NFPA CO Safety Sheet – Spanish

By Jay Canzonier, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.
The post Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.

In “Oh, RATS! How to Evict Them from Farm-provided Employee Housing”, we outlined strategies to keep furry intruders at bay. But now, as bug season is upon us, it’s time to address a new menace: those uninvited six-legged visitors.

Keeping insects out of farm-provided employee housing is critical for resident health and safety, ensuring comfort, maintaining productivity, preserving property, regulatory compliance, and community reputation. Drawing from the expertise and resources of the NYSIPM Program housed at Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, let’s fortify our defenses and prepare for this summer’s buggy invasion of farm-provided employee housing.

Insects don’t do clean. By eliminating potential food sources, we can make our housing less inviting to these unwelcome guests.

Here’s how:

• Communicate the importance of sanitation to residents.
• Establish a system and schedule for cleaning maintenance.
• Equip residents with the tools needed for effective cleaning.
• Encourage storage of food items in sealed containers.
• Be mindful of cultural differences that may affect cleaning expectations.
• Food spills and crumbs on the stove and other surfaces should be cleaned up after each meal.

This helpful cleaning schedule can be posted as a guide: Cleaning Schedule for Farm-provided Employee Housing

Don’t underestimate those tiny crevices – they’re pest highways! By sealing gaps and cracks, we create a barrier that prevents insects from entering living spaces and eliminates hiding spots.

Here’s what to do:

• Conduct a thorough inspection of the housing unit for openings.
• Close all potential entry points with sealant materials that will not shrink or weatherstripping.

Screens: frontline defense against flying invaders. Properly installed screens allow ventilation while keeping flying insects outside.

Here’s how to ensure their effectiveness:

• Ensure all doors and windows have screens.
• Regularly inspect screens for tears or holes.
• Confirm doors and windows close tightly.

Outdoors is where the battle begins. Yard maintenance is vital for reducing hiding areas and minimizing the likelihood of pests migrating indoors.

Here’s what to do:

• Trim vegetation, especially near foundations.
• Remove unused objects and debris from the surroundings to reduce hiding places.
• Eliminate standing water sources to eliminate breeding grounds for mosquitos.

Pesticides: ensure legal and proper use. Used properly, pesticides are a useful tool in managing insect pests. Here’s what you need to know:

IMPORTANT! With one exception, anyone—including the farm owner—who applies pesticides in farm-provided employee housing must be a certified applicator in Commercial Subcategory 7A or work under the direct supervision of someone who is. The exception is that a farm employee can apply pesticides to farm-provided housing if both of these conditions apply: (1) the person has a written lease to occupy the housing (whether or not any rent is charged) AND (2) the pesticide is classified as general use (i.e., can be purchased by anyone, such as at a hardware store).  If the farm owner only wants certified applicators to apply pesticides to the housing, they can add language to the lease that prohibits employees from applying pesticides.

If employees are allowed to use pesticides, here’s what to tell the employee to do:

• The employee must apply the pesticide only as directed on the product label.
• The employee must follow all use precautions on the label to protect themselves and their family and pets.
• The employee must store pesticides and other household chemicals out of the reach of children.

Here is a great fact sheet from the NYS IPM Program: CCE-PSEP Pesticide Education Fact Sheet: Storing Pesticides at Home

By implementing these proactive strategies, residents and farm managers can create a healthier and more comfortable living environment. Through regular maintenance, proper sanitation, and strategic pest management, we can fend off insect invaders and ensure the well-being of all inhabitants. Let the bug battle begin!

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By Jay Canzonier, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.
The post Invasion Alert! Safeguarding Farm-provided Employee Housing from Insect Enemies appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.