  Phi meson-baryon cross sections, estimated within a one-boson-exchange model,
serve as input for a calculation of the collision rates in hot hadronic matter.
We find that the width of the \phi meson is modified through collisions with
baryons by 1-10 MeV at 160 MeV temperature depending on the baryon fugacity.
Thermalization of the \phi in high energy heavy ion collisions is discussed.
