Although working on a farm can be an incredibly rewarding line of work, there’s no denying it can also be incredibly dangerous. Accidents on the farm can happen to anyone – regardless of the employee’s experience level.
Between 2021-2022, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports there were 21,020 injuries in agricultural production that required days away from work. However, there is a well-known underreporting of injuries in the agricultural industry, says Samantha Wolfe, ag and occupational health educator with Michigan State University Extension.
“At the national level, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) exempts employers with 10 or fewer employees, including most small farms, from routine injury and illness recordkeeping. However, all employers must report serious incidents such as fatalities, in-patient hospitalizations, amputations or losses of an eye to OSHA, regardless of size,” she says. “That’s part of why those numbers are so vastly underreported.”
When it comes to swine operations, she says the majority of personal injuries stem from lifting heavy loads. However, repeated exposure to high decibels, particulate matter and airborne contaminants can develop into chronic conditions such as respiratory illness or hearing impairment.
Many of these risks can be mitigated with proper safety measures and consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE), Wolfe says.
Here are three ways you can minimize personal injury on the swine farm.
1. Use safe lifting techniques.
Lifting and hauling heavy loads can build strength when done with proper technique, but doing so incorrectly may lead to injuries or contribute to long-term damage to joints and muscles.
“Lift within your limits,” Wolfe says. “Don’t reach, ensure firm footing and balance, stand as close as possible to the load and lift from the knees and core rather than your back. Be sure your path is clear of slip or trip hazards. Avoid bending or twisting the upper body while carrying. When setting the load down, bend from the knees and hips rather than the back.”
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when lifting heavy loads, she adds. If no one is available to help you, there are specialized tools that can be used on pig farms. Whether that’s a specialized mortality cart or a radio-controlled hog-sorting gate, Wolfe encourages pork producers to check out AgrAbility’s assistive technology database.
2. Monitor air quality.
From airborne microorganisms to endotoxins, a variety of particulates exist in the air in livestock barns. Wolfe says their presence and persistence vary based on ambient outdoor temperatures, humidity and atmospheric pressure.
“Air quality is a key consideration in any work setting that is enclosed, dusty, hazy or contains manure or other strong odors,” she explains. “Poor air quality in these environments can lead to irritation of the mucous membranes, acute or chronic bronchitis, occupational asthma and other respiratory conditions.”
Of course, ventilation plays a key role in the modern hog barn and ensures better air quality for employees and pigs when working properly. You can also minimize dust in the barn by switching from ground to pelleted feed, Wolfe adds.
“During a recent farm visit, the owners had just made the switch from ground feed to pelleted feed. They agreed that it was easier to breathe in there,” she says.
It’s good idea to wear a mask. Masks have become a ‘hot-button issue’ in the last five years, but Wolfe says wearing an N-95 mask, or even a dust mask, can be helpful for anyone spending a lot of time in the barn.
For those with prolonged exposure to barn air, a properly fitted respirator provides even more protection. Respirators were once thought of as a clunky, inconvenient helmet-style piece of equipment, but modern versions have evolved significantly, she says. Many now weigh less than 1 lb., rest comfortably behind the head and feature negative pressure-activated filtration systems that allow for extended wear in high-risk environments.
3. Protect your ears.
Loud noises in the work area, whether from machinery at the farm or large groups of pigs in the barn, can cause more than just momentary discomfort, Wolfe says. Consistent exposure to high decibel levels can contribute to long-term impacts such as noise-induced hearing loss.
Pigs can produce sound levels ranging from 100 dBA to 115 dBA, well above the safe threshold, especially for more than a few minutes. It’s not possible to avoid exposure to these high-decibel sounds, so wearing PPE consistently is crucial. Well-fitted earplugs or earmuffs should be worn correctly every time you’re in a high-noise environment to reduce long-term hearing risks, she says.
“Disposable earplugs make a big difference,” Wolfe says. “They block up to about 35 decibels and can really take the edge off.”
Pay Attention to Yourself
Jim Kober, a veterinarian with West Michigan Livestock Consulting, LLC, says he hears about back injuries the most in sow barns that occur from removing dead and downer sows. He also says needle sticks from vaccinating sows and or pigs is another common injury. Meanwhile, in the finisher, more of the injuries are related to loading market pigs, impacting the knees in particular.
“It’s important to wear good quality shoes,” Kober says. “Cheap rubber boots do not give good foot support when you are wearing them all day.”
Kober encourages producers to have the correct equipment for the particular job at hand. It’s also a good idea to rotate job duties to avoid repetitive movement injuries.
“You don’t have to work through discomfort,” Wolfe adds. “There are ways to accommodate yourself in the tasks you’re doing to make things more comfortable for yourself. Sometimes that is as simple as wearing earplugs.”
With phones within reach nearly all day long, Wolfe points out some apps that can help, too. From attaching a meter to your phone for air quality monitoring in an app to using an app to measure sound levels, these tools can help bring more accuracy to what you think is happening in the barn.
“It can really change your quality of life to pay a little more attention to yourself,” she says. “It’s okay to ask for help, to work with others or talk about what you might be struggling with.”
Your Next Read: Kids on the Farm: Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Safety
