Safety and Biosecurity

Excerpted from “Hazards on the Farm”

Posted to www.nasda.org

Be Alert!!

Farms present certain hazards to those

working on the farm, and to those just

visiting.

As an enumerator, it’s important to have a

good understanding of these hazards and

how to protect yourself.

“Foreseeability is the key to limiting

liability”

Walking and Working Surfaces

Farm landscapes are unpredictable.

Can find anything from tire ruts, rocks, nails,

animal droppings from one step to the next.

Be cautious entering barns or other buildings

Power Take Offs (PTOs)

A PTO is a shaft at the rear of a tractor.

Connects to farm implement and provides

mechanical power to the implement.

PTOs spin high speeds. Just stay away.

Livestock and Pets

Animals can be aggressive towards new people

and set off by objects and smells.

Don’t interact with animals unknown to you.

Be calm and deliberate around livestock.

Avoid the animal’s blind spot.

Avoid loud noises and do not yell.

Always leave yourself a way out in close

quarters.

Use extreme caution around male farm animals.

Dehydration Dehydration is a condition that occurs when a person

loses more fluids than he or she takes in.

Signs of dehydration include thirst, feeling dizzy and lightheaded and having a dry or sticky mouth.

To avoid dehydration - drink lots of fluids

Wear loose-fitting clothing and a hat if you can.

Don’t forget to use sunblock.

What is Biosecurity?

Biosecurity seeks to protect animals from

any type of infectious agent (viral, bacterial,

fungal, parasite)

Biosecurity

Most farms, especially livestock operations,

have biosecurity plans to keep out diseases,

limit the spread of disease, improve overall

health of their animals, reduce mortality

losses, and improve profitability.

Enumerators need to respect operators who

don’t want outsiders on their operation for fear

of disease contamination.

Biosecurity for NASDA/NASS

NEVER enter an area where livestock production is

occurring unless invited by the operator

DO NOT visit a livestock/poultry farm unless

absolutely necessary. Phone the operator first.

DO NOT visit more than one livestock/poultry

farm per day

ALWAYS follow the biosecurity protocols of the

farm you are visiting regardless of type of livestock

NASS/NASDA will NOT be a vector for disease!

Don’t hurt the farms we are trying to help!

NOTE: Please be sure to follow any more restrictive guidance provided by NASS. These are intended as general minimal guidance.

First, determine if a personal interview is necessary. If not, try to contact livestock or poultry farms by phone first, to either collect data

over the phone or set up an appointment/location for a personal interview.

Always follow the owner or company’s biosecurity guidance and requirements. Be sure to ask about these during the phone contact.

When conducting personal interviews:

Try to meet with the operator away from the barns and never walk into a barn complex or rearing facility unless the owner has

given you permission or asked you to enter the barn/facility.

Park your vehicle as far away from buildings or lots housing animals as possible.

If you have livestock or poultry of your own at home, be sure to shower and put on clean clothes/shoes before leaving to do your

personal interviews. If you visited a livestock or poultry operation during your workday, you should shower and put on clean

clothes/shoes before you tend to your own livestock or poultry.

When a specific disease outbreak is occurring in a specific area during any data collection period:

Do not visit any farm or operation that is known to be infected. Contact the operation by phone if possible. If a personal interview

is required, try to meet them at an off-site location..

For other non-infected livestock or poultry farms within any control area/containment zone or affected county:

Try to phone them first, to either collect data over the phone or set up an appointment/location for a personal interview. If

a personal interview is set up, try to limit visits to only one livestock/poultry farm visit per day. This also applies to farms

with backyard flocks.

If you visit a livestock or poultry farm, wear disposable plastic booties over your shoes and remove them before getting

back in your vehicle. If you do not have plastic booties, clean your shoes and disinfect them with disinfectant spray before

getting back into your vehicle.

Wash your vehicle at the end of each workday.

It is our responsibility to be as cautious as possible especially during specific disease outbreaks. We must show that we understand the

need for being responsible during our interactions with the livestock and poultry industry.

NASDA Enumerator Biosecurity Guidelines for Farm Visits

Key Resource from NASDA-NASS website

Driving

Inspect your vehicle

Secure the materials for the day

Seat belt

Drive Defensively

Avoid Impairment

Avoid DISTRACTIONS

Watch Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfknB9CZiA8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdS6Mb6oAiw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKI3s-A3-Ks

Distracted Driving Video

7 Deadly Distractions

Distracted to Death

Questions???