Safety in Livestock Production

1. Safety in Livestock Production Chapter 3

2. Objectives • Explain the importance of safety when working with livestock • Discuss four types of hazards related to livestock production • List the safety practices to be followed when working with livestock and poultry

3. Objectives (cont.) • Develop a livestock safety checklist • Distinguish between agroterrorism and biosecurity • Discuss the dangers of bioterrorism and agroterrorism • Discuss the procedures to be followed in providing agrosecurity

4. Terminology • Zoonoses: diseases and parasites transmitted between humans and animals • Biosecurity: protection from biological harm to living things • Bioterrorism: deliberate use of biological or chemical weapons

5. Terminology (cont.) • Agroterrorism: deliberate use of biological or chemical weapons to harm agricultural enterprises • Agrosecurity: use of all possible means to guard against harm to the food production system

6. Introduction • Agriculture is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States • Most fatal injuries caused by machinery • Livestock are second highest cause of injury • Employers are required to provide a safe and healthy working environment

7. Types and Kinds of Injuries • Mostly, older people are hurt by cattle • Ages 25–64 are most often hurt by hogs • Most accidents for ages 5–25 are from horses • Injuries often caused by being bitten, knocked down, or stepped on by animals

8. Human and Environmental Factors Relating to Safety • Being tired • Not paying attention • Using poor judgment • Age (younger than 15, older than 65) • Lack of knowledge or proper instruction • Not feeling well • Failure to use protective equipment

9. Human and Environmental Factors Relating to Safety (cont.) • Dangerous environments • Slippery floors • Manure pits, corrals • Dusty feed areas • Silos • Automatic feeding equipment • Confinement livestock and poultry buildings

10. Human and Environmental Factors Relating to Safety (cont.) • Improper ventilation, allowing manure pit gases to recycle in buildings, causing illness or death • Standby electrical source is recommended to ensure proper system operation

11. Chemical Safety • Regulations set by EPA’s Worker Protection Standard, 1995 • Applies to farm employees who work with farm chemicals, related equipment • Sets standards for personal protective equipment and pesticide application • Requires proper labeling of pesticides

12. Chemical Safety (cont.) • OSHA requires Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all workplace chemicals • Care of clothing worn while using farm chemicals • Care, disposal depends on toxicity level • Proper washing of contaminated clothing is crucial for worker safety

13. Chemical Safety (cont.) • Storing chemicals • Should be stored in safe place, away from children, and accidental access • Proper storage containers should be used • Proper labeling • Should be locked in cabinet, away from other materials • Avoid freezing

14. First Aid Kits • Kits with proper supplies should be kept • In the home • In livestock buildings • On all major pieces of equipment • In all vehicles • Ensure kits include all recommended items

15. Heat and Humidity Factors Relating to Safety • Problems include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke • Heat cramp symptoms • Excessive sweating, fatigue • Thirst • Muscle cramps

16. Heat and Humidity Factors Relating to Safety (cont.) • Heat exhaustion symptoms • Headache • Dizziness • Weakness • Nausea, vomiting • Cool, moist skin

17. Heat and Humidity Factors Relating to Safety (cont.) • Heatstroke symptoms • Fever (above 104°F) • Confusion, irrational behaviors • Flushed skin • Rapid, shallow breathing • Rapid, weak pulse • Unconsciousness, seizures

18. Heat and Humidity Factors Relating to Safety (cont.) • Treatment of heat-related issues • Heatstroke, seek emergency medical help • Heat cramps, heat exhaustion • Move to shady, or air-conditioned place • Cool off with damp cloths, or a fan • Take a cool shower or bath • Rehydrate with water or sports drinks

19. Hazards in Handling Livestock • Important to have solid facilities • Workers should avoid entering small or enclosed areas with animals • Floors should be uncluttered, not slippery • Adequate lighting • Handle animals calmly and quietly, understand their behavior

20. Hazards in Handling Livestock (cont.) • Use of curved chutes with solid sides and uniform color makes it easier to move cattle • Acclimate cattle to being around people when they are on pasture • Handle cattle carefully in working pens to avoid unpleasant experiences • Provide proper care when moving animals

21. Hazards in Handling Livestock (cont.) • “Flight zone” concept • Don’t work with piglets in the same pen as the sow • Keep conditions uniform • Stay where the animal can see you

22. Horse Safety • Handling • Stay out of kicking range • Remain calm, confident • Leading • Walk beside horse, rather than in front, behind • Tying • Tie with about 2 feet of rope

23. Horse Safety (cont.) • Bridling • Don’t bridle a nervous horse in closed area • Stand close to left side, just behind head • Saddling • Stand well back in the clear, reach forward • Mounting • Don’t mount in barn, or near obstacles

24. Horse Safety (cont.) • Riding • If frightened, steady horse and provide time to calm down • Proceed slowly up/down hills, on rough ground • Equipment and clothing • Keep equipment in best possible condition • Hauling horses • Two people should work in tandem

25. Hazards of Animal Diseases • Animal-to-man diseases called zoonoses • Rabies is well-known • Caused by virus • Spread through bites, scratches • “Bird flu,” H1N1, and West Nile virus • Cleanliness, vaccination, quarantine of sick animals are key to prevention

26. Personal Protective Equipment • Several types of personal protective equipment should be used around livestock • Bump caps, hard hats • Respirators in dusty, moldy areas, in silos, manure storage areas, and around pesticides • Goggles for eye protection • Protective gloves

27. Personal Protective Equipment (cont.) • Livestock workers can be exposed to three types of atmospheric contamination • Dust, particulate matter • Pesticides • Toxic gases

28. Personal Protective Equipment (cont.) • Four types of dangerous gases • Ammonia • Hydrogen sulfide • Methane • Carbon dioxide

29. Personal Protective Equipment (cont.) • Respiratory problems can stem from working in confinement buildings • Two kinds of respiratory protection equipment • Air-purifying respirators • Atmosphere-supplying respirators

30. Facilities • Silo hazards • Falling, injury from equipment • Deadly gases, such as CO2 • Do not enter silo for three weeks after it has been filled • Ventilate silo room for two weeks after it has been filled

31. Facilities (cont.) • Grain handling and storage hazards • Becoming quickly trapped in grain when maintaining equipment • Suffocation from being buried under grain • Toxic organic dust syndrome • Farmer’s lung disease • Follow safety precautions during unloading

32. Facilities (cont.) • Livestock confinement building hazards • Toxic gases (carbon monoxide, methane) • Proper ventilation required to prevent deadly gas concentrations • Danger is highest when manure is agitated • Power failures can pose hazards • Dust hazards

33. Fire Safety • Usually caused by carelessness • Most farm fires are caused by faulty electrical equipment, heaters, careless smoking • Call the fire department immediately if a fire is spotted

34. Fire Safety (cont.) • Classification of fires • Class A • Wood • Paper • Textiles • Grass • Trash • Can be extinguished with water

35. Fire Safety (cont.) • Classification of fires (cont.) • Class B • Grease • Gasoline, oils, kerosene • Paints • Solvents • Must be smothered

36. Fire Safety (cont.) • Classification of fires (cont.) • Class C • Electrical equipment • Extinguished with high-pressure water fog • Class D • Involves combustible metals • Air must be removed

37. Fire Safety (cont.) • Fire extinguishers • Marked with combination of lettersand colors for class of fire on which they can be used • Class A – A in a green triangle • Class B – B in a red square • Class C – C in a blue circle • Class D – D in a yellow five-pointed star

38. Biosecurity and Agroterrorism • Recent terrorist activity has raised questions about security of our food supply • Diseases in confinement livestock operations are a big concern • Most livestock enterprises limit visitors, take other precautions to prevent introduction of disease

39. Biosecurity and Agroterrorism (cont.) • Pests, diseases, and chemicals spread by • Animals • People • Wind • Vehicles • Equipment • Deliberately by terrorist action

40. Biosecurity andAgroterrorism (cont.) • It is most important to take biosecurity measures at individual herd levels • Programs to prevent disease must be implemented, with practices such as limiting visitors, farm cleanliness, equipment disinfection, care of sick animals, farm security, etc.