Robert
Wilkinson and Anthony
Tilma
Michigan State University Extension
Production
agriculture consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous
of all American industries. A recent National Safety Council
study ranks beef cattle farms and dairy operations as second
and third respectively among all agricultural enterprises
in the number of injuries per hour of work. Animals are involved
in 17 percent of all farm injuries, equivalent to the number
of accidents involving farm machinery.
Animal
characteristics and typical animal environments in combination
result in a high potential for accidents when a wrong combination
of events occurs. Farmers and farm workers must always be
on guard when working with or around animals.
"Good
housekeeping" practices and respect for animals play major
roles in reducing hazards and risks to both humans and animals.
Clutter, messes, and disrepair often set the stage for accidents
and contribute to the seriousness of many injuries.
Where
production and handling of animals is a day-to-day occurrence,
safety must be an ongoing consideration and a primary concern.
Taking simple precautions may take a few extra seconds, but
removing or reducing hazards can save time, pain and suffering,
property, resources and lives.
Animals' senses function much like those of humans; however,
animals may detect and perceive their environments very differently
as compared to the way humans detect and perceive the same surroundings.
A better
understanding of animals is gained by observing their structure,
learning their composition, and contemplating the effects
of the differences between them and humans.
For
example, human eyes are positioned approximately 2.5 inches
apart on the front of the head. Most farm animals have their
eyes located more to the side rather than to the front of
their heads. Humans are adapted for "telephoto" vision capabilities
whereas most animals have superior "wide-angle" vision. As
a result of eye positioning and spacing, humans have superior
ability to judge distances and to see in 3-D (three dimensions--seeing
height, width, and depth).
Animals,
with their wide-angle vision, have a reduced ability to perceive
depth and to judge distances.
Cattle
and horses have panoramic vision, which means they can see
everything except something that is directly behind them,
giving them a viewing range of 270 degrees while humans have
a range of about 180 degrees. Sudden movements behind cattle
will "spook" them because they can see a quick movement but
cannot distinguish how close the perceived "threat" is nor
can they determine the seriousness of the movement. In response
to sudden movements, fear may develop in the animal's mind
sufficient to trigger a "flight" or "fight" response.
While
most animals are colorblind, their hearing is extremely sensitive
relative to humans, especially to higher frequency sounds.
Knowing
these characteristics of animal vision and hearing, we can
understand why animals are usually skittish and/or balky in
unfamiliar surroundings.
Experienced
animal handlers should recognize that animals perform and
or produce best when their lives are as tranquil and their
environment is as comfortable as reasonably possible. Avoid
extremes in temperature, humidity, lighting, and other environmental
conditions such as loud noises, rapid motions, excitement,
and harsh treatment. Not only do tranquil animals produce
and perform better, they are more predictable than their "high-strung"
counterparts.
Animals
with histories of traumatic exposures are more likely to overreact
to changing surroundings or when confronted with unfamiliar
circumstances. Be extra cautious when animals are being medically
treated or examined, loaded, moved, or during other handling
operations.
People
who work with animals recognize the ability of animals to
communicate despite an inability to speak. Most species have
and display characteristic signs of fear, aggression, and
contentment. Astute handlers are sensitive to warnings evidenced
by:
- raised
or pinned ears,
- raised
tail,
- raised
back hair,
- barred
teeth,
- pawing
the ground, and/or
- snorting.
Specific
handling methods, like warning signs, vary with species. However,
some general handling rules for all animals include the following:
- Most
animals respond favorably to routines having calm, deliberate
responses.
- Avoid
loud noises and quick movements.
- Be
patient,never prod an animal when it has no place to go.
- Move
slowly and deliberately around livestock.
- Touching
animals gently can be more effective than shoving and/or
bumping them.
- Respect
rather than fear livestock. Breeding stock are highly protective
and often irritable. Disposition deteriorates with age and
parturition. Old breeding stock can be cantankerous, deceptive,
unpredictable, and large enough to be dangerous.
- Special
facilities should be provided for breeding stock (especially
for large males). Most animals are highly protective of
their young. Be especially careful around newborn animals.
- Male
animals should be considered potentially dangerous at all
times. Proper equipment and facilities are necessary to
assure safety. Extreme caution should be practiced when
handling male animals!
- The
size, mass, strength, and speed of both individual animals
and herds of animals should never be taken lightly. Animals
will defend their territory and should be worked around
keeping in mind that there is always the potential for harm.
- Always
provide an escape route (always leave yourself a way out),
especially when working in close quarters, with sick or
injured animals, and/or under adverse conditions (i.e.,
severe storms etc.).
- Exercise
extra care around strange animals and enforce extreme care
if strangers must be around your animals.
- Maintain
equipment and facilities in good repair and exercise "good
housekeeping" practices.
- Some
animal handlers believe that animals are responsive to soothing
talk, singing, and/or hand signals.
Many injuries related to livestock handling can be directly
attributed to inadequate facilities, equipment failures, and
poor building structures. Most agricultural producers recognize
that poor facilities, equipment, and buildings adversely affect
everyday operations, production efficiencies, and also increase
the risk of accidental injuries to livestock and humans.
Older
facilities usually do not include many of the efficiencies,
conveniences, low maintenance, and safety features designed
and built into more modern livestock facilities.
Additional
problems may occur when old buildings have been altered to
function in ways that were not included in the design of the
original structures.
Hazards
that may exist in older structures or structures that have
been altered are discussed below.
- Tripping
hazards are encountered at high door sills, in narrow or
cluttered alleyways, and on uneven walking surfaces. A recent
U.S. study found that falls accounted for 18 percent of
all animal-related accidents.
- Concrete
floors are best for livestock. Floor, ramp, and step finishes
should be roughened to prevent slips under wet conditions.
High traffic areas, such as alleyways, should be grooved.
Floors should be constructed to allow water to drain quickly.
Slatted floors are used to keep animals dry in a confinement
system.
- Fencing
and gates should be strong and durable enough to contain
crowded livestock. Alleys and chutes should be wide enough
to permit animals to pass, but not wide enough for the animal
to turn around. Animals are less likely to balk in chutes
constructed with solid walls instead of fencing materials.
- Any
protruding surface or point (e.g., edge or corner of a beam,
board, box, cabinet, container, or nail, bolt,etc.) can
cause painful and/or infectious injuries. Slipping, falling,
being backed or pushed, or simply bumping into or stepping
on these objects can cause a variety of serious injuries
that can lead to or result in disabilities and/or death.
- Lighting
should be even and diffused to eliminate glare. Animals
generally move readily from dark areas into well-lighted
areas but are reluctant to move from lighted areas into
dark areas. Bright spots and shadows tend to make animals
skittish, especially in and near crowded areas or loading
areas. Animal facility layouts should be designed so that
animals do not look directly into the sun.
- Appropriate
handling equipment can reduce injuries to animals and humans
and save labor and time during various phases of production.
For example, adequate equipment can reduce time needed for
feeding, medical care/treatment, loading animals for market,
"housekeeping", and data recording and processing and record
generation.
Good animal management requires careful attention to health,
hygiene, and good "housekeeping". Maintenance of a well ventilated,
clean, dry, and a relatively dust-free environment is critical.
Improper care and maintenance of confinement facilities can
lead to the rapid spread of diseases with the possible loss
of an entire herd.
All
feed materials should be checked carefully before being fed
to animals. Feed-borne molds can cause severe respiratory
and digestive disorders to the herd and even to human handlers.
On-farm feed mills and storage facilities can be effective
in attaining quality control, but they also require careful
management. Purchase feed only from dealers and merchants
known to be reliable. Any suspect feed materials should be
tested.
Gases in confined spaces can be dangerous to animals and humans.
Toxic or poisonous reactions affect both humans and animals.
Agitation
of the contents of manure pits causes the release of great
quantities of heavier-than-air gases that are sufficient to
displace oxygen-containing air in an adjacent confinement
building. Unless adequate ventilation is provided, conditions
potentially fatal to humans and animals can develop very quickly.
Properly
designed buildings with adequate ventilation will prevent
the accumulation of toxic gases under normal operating conditions.
Additional
precautions may be necessary whenever contents of manure pits
are being agitated or when manure pits are entered for maintenance.
- Provide
for extensive ventilation during agitation of pit contents
(provide standby backup power for mechanical ventilation).
- Be
sure no humans are in confinement buildings during agitation
and remove animals (if possible).
- Always
keep at least one foot (not less than 12 inches) of clear
space between the highest manure level and the floor slats.
- Avoid
entering a manure pit--even when empty; potentially fatal
hazards may still exist.
- If
a manure pit must be entered,
- use
a self-contained air supply,
- use
a lifeline and harness with adequate retrieval equipment
(hoist, etc.), and
- have
sufficient personnel standing by to effect a safe rescue.
Dusts
are common in livestock operations and present a hazard to
animals and humans. All dust represents potential health problems,
but some dusts may cause permanent health damage, permanent
disability and/or death.
Use
and store only dry grain and dry, well-cured forage. Animal
areas should be kept as clean and dust-free as possible. Stale
dust and feed accumulations attract and absorb moisture (from
humid barn air), creating a perfect environment for mold and
other microorganisms.
People
can wear a dust mask when exposed to dusty conditions; animals
cannot. Whenever possible, move animals outdoors or to other
areas when "housekeeping" chores are in process. Provide adequate
ventilation whenever movement of animals is not possible or
practical.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
Michigan State University,
Agricultural Engineering Department.
Robert Wilkinson, Anthony Tilma, Agricultural Engineer and former
Graduate research assistant respectively, Michigan State University
Extension, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. 5/92. Funded by the
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health - #UO5/CC-4506052-01.
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