““A Farm Safety Training A Farm Safety Training Program on Human Risk Program on Human Risk Management for Dairy Management for Dairy

Producers using a Labor Producers using a Labor Force Including Hispanic Force Including Hispanic

WorkersWorkers””

A.D. Garcia1, T.E. Renelt1, C.Mondak2, and U. Francesa3. 1South

Dakota State University, Brookings; 2Iowa State University, Ames; 3Private practice.

Farm sustainability Farm sustainability

• Solving the puzzle:

Milk price

Animal health

Quality of Life

Animal well-being

Climate

Farm safety

Feed price

environment

Upper Midwest Dairies Upper Midwest Dairies

• Consolidation into larger operations

• Dairymen turned to businessmen/human resource managers

• Hiring immigrant labor has become critical.

• Employees with limited dairy experience.

• >90% in large dairies are Latinos

• Chores: from milking to middle management

• They fill a need locals are not interested in

• Sometimes involved in farm accidents

WorkersWorkers

InexperienceInexperience

• 44% of employees stay less than a year at a

farm Grusenmeyer.

2004

• New, inexperienced worker an asset?

• Allows owners to train according to their BMPs’

• Training reduces unnecessary risks

Hierarchy of ControlHierarchy of Control

• Controlling exposures to occupational

hazards is critical to protect workers.

• A hierarchy of controls has been used

to determine how to implement

feasible and effective controls.

1. Elimination: i.e. Not using formaldehyde

2. Substitution: i.e. Use less-hazardous substance

3. Isolation: i.e. Keep chemicals in a lockable area

4. Personal protection equipment

5. Engineering controls: i.e. barrier worker/hazard

6. Administrative control: handling, training, signs

7. Monitoring and Health surveillance

Hierarchy of ControlHierarchy of Control-National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-

Project 1.

Hierarchy of ControlHierarchy of ControlFarm safety control strategy Addressed

in project1. Elimination 1

2. Substitution 1

3. Isolation 1

4. Personal protection equipment 1

5. Engineering controls 1

6. Administrative control 2

7. Monitoring and health surveillance

3

Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and

Health

Project 1:Project 1:• Effort by the Extension Services of IA, MN, ND, NE, and

SD

• Funding: North Central Risk Management Education

Center.

• Dairy owners and supervisors training objectives:− Increase knowledge concerning effective employee training.− Incorporate farm safety practices in the dairy operation.− Increase knowledge and skills regarding farm safety. − Safety signage in adequate language is posted.− Evidence of first aid equipment and materials.− Evidence of safety sessions conducted with employees.− Engage in safe practices when using chemicals.− Practice safe cattle handling.

ObjectivesObjectives

1. Increase dairy owners and employee’s knowledge

and awareness of safety risks, safe work practices,

and resources for farm safety and well-being.

2. Encourage dairy owners to create a “culture of

safety” on their farms as of their dairy operation.

• Participants: 40 dairies in the I29 region, comprising

a total of 556 employees and 63 owners.

Results – What Participants Learn, Results – What Participants Learn, Achieve, AppAchieve, Apply

• Glossary of terms

• Define the terms as used in this

training

Topic One

• Explain details

• Give an example

• Conduct exercises to reinforce

learning

Project stepsProject steps1. Hire bilingual coordinator

2. Discuss content development

3. Survey to gauge specific needs

for general content.

4. Recruit farms/schedule training.

5. Develop content for workshop

a) Customize manual: Dairy walk-through

b) Attend workshop: increase awareness.

c) Verify adoption of safety practices

6. Deliver workshops 1 and 2

7. Facilitate delivery of English

and Spanish on-site training at

40 farms.

8. Provide follow-up on-site

visits and assessments.

Supporting materialsSupporting materials

1. Farm recruitment

- Invitational flyer sent to producers in 4-state

region.

2. Bilingual signage to be used at dairies

- i.e. chemicals.

3. Article: “Safety risk areas on the dairy farm”.- Co-authored by ISU, UMN, UNL, and SDSU

More Information

• List other training sessions

• List books, articles, electronic

sources

• List consulting services, other

sources

High Risk Areas in the High Risk Areas in the DairyDairy• Falls, trips, and slips

• The feeding alley

• The silos

• Hospital and the treated pen

• The bulls

• The traffic in the dairy

• Employees housing

• Manure and toxic gases

• Driving machinery

• The milking parlor

• Working with the cows

• Power tools

• Dairy chemicals and

veterinary drugs

• The First Aid Kit and

First Response Person

Results and DiscussionResults and Discussion

• Different social climates on-site impacted

workshops effectiveness.

• Likelihood of practice change greater when owner

and employees interacted during training.

• Bilingual educator facilitated this interaction.

Suggestions for Suggestions for improvementimprovement

• In-person recruitment more effective.

• English sample of workshop material in-hand.

• Schedule discussion with owners on same date as workshop with employees.

• Owners to be present during workshop.

• Perform walk-through assessment building knowledge with owners/herdsmen.

Keys to success:Keys to success:

• Presence of bilingual educator to build understanding,

trust, and promote joint-problem solving.

• On-farm workshops increased interest and willingness of

participation

• Hands-on, participatory nature engaged owners interest

and increased likelihood of implementing changes

• Concepts and facts plus access to resources improved

safety (i.e. safety signage, first aid kits, etc.)

6. Administrative control: Procedures for

handling, labeling, continuing training and

use of signs• Project: “Addressing the Human-Animal Welfare Interface in Dairy Farms”.

2013. Objectives: 1. employees understand the cow/human interface and

its impact on animal well-being and workers health; 2. validate remote

training to reduce or replace reliability on fossil fuel transportation and reduce

unproductive travel time. Participants: Four dairies (2 MN; 2 SD) 8,000-cows

and 80 employees; UNM, UMN and SDSU Upper Midwest Ag. Safety and Health

Ctr. SDSU.

The Hierarchy of ControlThe Hierarchy of Control

7. Monitoring and Health surveillance

•Project: “Exposure Assessment and Intervention Analysis in Large Herd Dairy

Parlors” 2013. Objective: To improve parlor efficiency and safeness. Participants: (236 workers total nationally) Un. of TX Health Science Center-Houston, CO.S.U. and SDSU.

Questions?Questions?