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Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health

Dairy Farm Safety

COVID-19 On Farms

COVID-19 Vaccine:

  • COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (English)
    William Brett Perkison, MD, MPH, FACOEM a Board Certified Family Medicine and Occupational and Environmental Medicine Physician and Assistant Professor in Occupational Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health shares timely information on the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine and answers frequently asked questions (FAQs) on (1) vaccine basics, (2) how to get the vaccine, and (3) possible side effects for agricultural workers hosted by Anabel Rodriguez, PhD, MPH from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health in San Antonio. This video was recorded on March 4, 2021.

  • Preguntas frecuentes sobre la vacuna contra el coronavirus (Spanish)
    George L. Delclos, MD, MPH, PhD, FCCP, médico de los pulmones y salud de trabajadores y profesor en el Centro de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad de Texas en la Escuela de Salud Pública de Houston, comparte información sobre la vacuna del coronavirus (COVID -19) y responde preguntas frecuentes sobre (1) conceptos básicos de la vacuna, (2) cómo obtener la vacuna y (3) posibles efectos secundarios para los trabajadores agrícolas presentado por Anabel Rodríguez, PhD, MPH de la Centro de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad de Texas en la Escuela de Salud Pública de Houston en San Antonio. Este video fue grabado el 4 de marzo de 2021.

  • Ri amaq’el taq k’otow chi’aj pwi’ ri kunab’al q’ateb’al uwach le COVID-19 (K’iche’)
    Ruk’ ri ajkun. George L. Delclos Uk’u’x ri saqil eta’mab’al  re utzwach re ri nimatijob’al re Texas pa Houston, Texas. Tijob’al re  utzwach ke ri winaq. Ri xk’otow uchi’ are ri  Ajkun: Anabel Rodriguez.

Training Resources for Producers and Herdsmen:

  • November 12, 2020, COVID-19 in the U.S. Dairy Industry 
    This video is the recorded webinar of the November 12, 2020 U.S. Dairy Industry: Training Resources for Producers and Herdsmen. This webinar includes the following content: (1) Moderation and Current COVID-19 situation in the U.S. by Anabel Rodriguez at the UTHealth School of Public Health in San Antonio; (2) COVID-19 statistical trends in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Idaho by David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras, PhD at the UTHealth School of Public Health in San Antonio; (3) Latest on virus (SARS-CoV-2) and disease (COVID-19) by William Brett Perkison, MD, MPH, FACOEM at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health; (4) Hierarchy of Controls by Janelle Rios, PhD, MPH at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health; (5) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by Wei-Chung Su, PhD, CIH at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health; (6) Introduction and Additional online resources for dairy producers David Douphrate, PhD, MPT, MBA, CPE, CSP at the UTHealth School of Public Health in San Antonio; and (7) Upcoming Dairy Worker Health and Well-Being Training by Robert Hagevoort, PhD at New Mexico State University Sciences. 

Training Resources for Dairy Farm Workers:

  • Dairy Worker Health and Well-Being Training (English)
    On March 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security declared agriculture, including the dairy industry, as an essential component of the nation’s critical infrastructure. This meant that agricultural employees, like dairy farm workers, were deemed essential to continue milking operations in these challenging times. The purpose of this training is to help dairy farm workers understand the importance of their health and well-being as employees of their farm as well as understand how to prevent the transmission of other respiratory diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, influenza) not only on the farm, but at home.

  • Salud y Bienestar de Trabajadores de Lecherías (Español)
    En marzo del 2020, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de los Estados Unidos declaró a la industria de agricultura, incluida la industria lechera, como un componente esencial de la nación. Esto significa que los trabajadores agrícolas, como los trabajadores de lecherías, son esenciales para continuar con las operaciones de ordeña, en estos tiempos difíciles. El propósito de este entrenamiento es ayudar a los trabajadores de lecherías comprender la importancia de su salud y bienestar como empleados de su lechería, y comprender cómo prevenir la transmisión de enfermedades respiratorias (como tuberculosis y gripa) no solo en la lechería, sino en su hogar también.

  • K’axlemal Xuquje’ Utzilal (K’iche’)
    Pa urox iq’ re ri junab’ 2020, Ri ja kechakun pa kiwi’ ri winaq re Estados Unidos xub’ij chi ri ja kab’an wi jalajoj taq uwach tikonik xuquje’ ri ja kachakux wi uw’al kitu wakax nimaq kib’antajik pa wa amaq’ tinamit. Kel uta’ik chi ri ajchakib’ kab’an wi jalajoja taq tikonik pacha’ ri at nim kib’antajik pa taq wa k’axk’olil taq q’ij chi resaxik uwa’l kitu’ ri wakax. Ri unimal ub’antajik wa jun tijonem are kuk’ut chi awach ri unimal ucholaj ri ak’axlemal xuquje ri utzilal chi ke ri ajchakib’ pa wa ja kesax wi uwa’l kitu’ wakax xuquje’ kaweta’maj jasa ri uq’atexik ri yab’il re uxlab’ pa ri achak xuquje’ pa ri awachoch.

Safety Articles
  1. Dairy worker safety and health
  2. OSHA inspections, citations, and penalties
  3. Injury and illness recordkeeping
  4. Chemical hazard communication
  5. Tractor safety
  6. Manure pit safety
  7. Worker respiratory protection
  8. Heat stress
  9. ATV safety
  10. Cold stress
  11. Vaccination safety
  12. Shiftwork considerations
  13. Silage safety
  14. Open-air manure storage
  15. Workplace Violence
  16. Zoonotic diseases
  17. Zoonotic diseases Part II
  18. Safety management: owner and manager commitment
  19. Safety management: employee participation and accountability
Mobile Safety Training Videos

Dairy Safety Training Video Series

Each link below will launch a video with training on the indicated topic.

Part I:

  1. Introduction
  2. Outside Animal Care
  3. Milking Barn Safety
  4. Feeding and Other Safety Issues

Part II

  1. General and Outside Worker Safety
  2. Milker & Calf Caretaker Safety
  3. Feeder Safety
Training Portal

A novel training program in dairy safety leadership and management is currently being developed to strengthen and fortify safety knowledge among participating dairy supervisors. This training initiative features a wide variety of safety topics, emphasizes techniques to foster strong leadership development, and encourages participants to apply what they have learned through a series of practical safety assessments. This is achieved through a sophisticated sequence of training videos and materials developed by academic and industry experts.

Module 0 - "How To" Do Modules Tutorial 

Module 1 - Introduction 

Module 2 - Supervisor Role & Worker Role

Module 3 - Cause of Injuries & Fatalities

Module 4 - Safety Hazards

Module 5 - Hazard Recognition & Prevention 

Module 6 - Modeling Safety

Module 7 - Effective Safety Communication Pt. 1

Module 8 - Effective Safety Communication Pt. 2

Module 9 - Safety Discipline 

Module 10 - Safety Meetings

Module 11 - Workplace Conflict 

Module 12 - Safety Culture 

Module 13 - Summary