Occupational Health: Farm Worker Health and Safety

If you live or work with animals or animal products like milk, eggs, or meat, you should know: even healthy animals can pass diseases to each other and the people around them. Cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and turkeys may spread harmful viruses and bacteria—like avian influenza, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, Campylobacter, E. coli, Giardia. and more—through their body fluids, waste, and uncooked products.

Not sure you’re at risk? You might be surprised. A dairy cow can become infected with avian influenza and pass it on to others, just like a chicken.

Want to protect your health, your work, and the people and animals around you? The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) are here to help. Learn how you can prevent the spread of avian influenza and other serious diseases.

Healthy starts here

Staying healthy and productive means taking practical safety measures that even the busiest farm workers can stick with. Follow these three simple steps to keep your biosecurity standards high and help stop diseases like avian influenza.

General safety tips

When viruses and bacteria spread, they can slow farm production and put farm workers’ health at risk. But their impact doesn’t stop there. Illnesses that pass from animals to people may infect those who don’t have direct contact with animals, too. It can happen when someone who lives or works with animals or animal products carries a dangerous virus or bacteria into their home or vehicle by accident on their skin, shoes, or clothing.

That’s why it’s important for all of us—farm workers and operators as well as farm families and communities—to take a few simple safety steps that can help protect everyone’s health.

Prepare smartly

• Learn more about the spread of avian influenza in humans by visiting the DHS Avian Influenza webpage.
• Learn how to protect animals and report outbreaks by visiting the DATCP Avian Influenza webpage.
• Explore the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on reducing worker’s exposure to avian influenza.
• Get an annual flu vaccine. Although the flu shot can’t prevent illnesses carried by animals, it can keep you from becoming sick with more than one illness at the same time.
  • Carry this pocket diagnosis card (PDF) and tell your health care provider that you live or work with animals or animal products if you become ill with flu-like symptoms, have diarrhea for more than a few days, or develop a high fever.

Work safely

• Practice basic biosecurity to help prevent the spread of diseases among people, your animals, and wildlife.
• Work with your veterinarian to keep your animals healthy.
• Do not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum in the areas where animals, animal products, or animal droppings are present.
• Do not drink unpasteurized (raw) milk.
• Clean up after you are done working with animals or animal products, handling equipment used on animals, or touching soiled surfaces where animals or animal droppings are present.
  • Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating, drinking, or preparing food for yourself or others.
• Use separate shoes, work gloves, and clothing when working with animals or animal products.
  • Remove soiled clothing and boots before getting into vehicles.
  • Keep work gear and clothing outside of your home or remove them immediately once you are home to prevent contamination.
  • Wash your hands after taking off any clothes and shoes you wore while working with animals or animal products.
• Supervise small children during any animal encounter and discourage behaviors that can increase their risk of illness.
  • Do not allow toys, pacifiers, spill-proof cups, baby bottles, strollers, or similar items in areas with animals or animal products.
  • Young children and people with weakened immune systems should avoid direct contact with calves, especially those with diarrhea (scours).
  • Young children and people with weakened immune systems should avoid direct contact with poultry and freshly laid eggs when avian influenza is in your area.

Additional resources

Resources listed below may be updated and revised. Check often for the latest information.