Making California Workplaces Safer

N e w s A b o u t O c c u p a t i o n a l S a f e t y a n d H e a l t h i n A G R I C U L T U R E

Safety NewsWorkplace Hazard Assessments

ISSUE FOUR, 2011

Continued on next page

Farm and ranch workers are frequently

exposed to an array of hazards each day

on the job. These hazards depend upon the

crops, the animals, and the type or location

of work activities.

Performing a hazard assessment helps to

optimize a safe work operation. The assess-

ments can identify possible hazards so steps

can be taken to reduce or eliminate them.

If a hazard can’t be eliminated, workers

should be educated about the hazards and

safe work practices should be enforced.

Tractors and other agricultural machinery

are commonly used on farms or ranches

and tractor rollovers are involved in more

fatal injuries than any other cause. To pro-

tect tractor operators, a Rollover Protection

Structure (ROPS) should be mounted on

the vehicle and seat belts should be installed

and worn. Tractors with Power Take-Off

(PTO) and other agricultural machinery

can present entanglement in moving parts

and pose another primary hazard and cause

of injury.

Stay alert around large farm animals, which

can cause injuries on dairy and livestock

farms. Bulls, stallions, or boars, and new

animal mothers defending their young, can

seriously injure workers. Keep in mind any

Treat Farm Animals with Respect

W orkers on farms and

ranches face many

hazards each day that

result in injuries and illnesses.

The hazards can result from tools,

supplies, and even the facilities

used in livestock care. However, if

workers are trained to recognize

hazards, wear personal protec-

tive equipment (PPE), follow safe

handling techniques, and practice good housekeep-

ing, they may prevent these painful incidents which

result in lost time, money, and productivity.

Even though there are special handling and safety

considerations for different livestock, most animals

have common instinctive behaviors. Learn to respect

those instincts by announcing your presence when

approaching an animal. Many animals are comfort-

able with routine, and they can become dangerous

and unpredictable if startled or spooked by loud

noises or quick movements. As well, livestock are

large enough to cause serious injury if provoked

or handled improperly. Even though livestock are

not generally violent they can be territorial and

will display a natural tendency to protect their young

or become aggressive during mating seasons. Keep

that in mind and always leave yourself an escape

route when working with livestock, especially in

close quarters.

Always wear PPE when working with or around

livestock. Good quality safety shoes or boots protect

your feet from powerful hooves and equipment.

Skid resistant soles provide better footing to prevent

slips, trips and falls

on wet, muddy or

manure covered sur-

faces. Sturdy leather

gloves protect hands

against cuts and

scrapes; however,

disposable rubber

gloves are best for

treating or birthing

animals. Safety goggles protect eyes from dust,

chaff, chemicals or flying particles common in

livestock operations.

Many livestock handling injuries are directly related

to equipment or building structures, so flooring

should be regularly cleaned. Lighting in livestock

areas should be evenly diffused; shadows and light

changes can excite or spook animals, particularly

in crowding and loading areas. When moving cattle

into a constrained space give them time to adjust to

the lighting and new environment.

Livestock can generate airborne contaminants,

including gases, odor, dust, and microbes so

proper ventilation is imperative for the health of

animal handlers. Wear the appropriate respirator

when cleaning livestock facilities, handling hay or

feed, and when working in confined spaces, such

as a manure pits (which must be secured against

unauthorized entry) or in silos. Make sure that all

your workers are trained in any hazards they may

encounter in livestock operations and that they

always treat animals with respect. q

Feature ArticlesTreat Farm Animals with RespectWorkplace Hazard Assessments

From Our Expert – Integrating Employee Health and WellnessSafety Topic – Be Smart About Bug BitesListeria Outbreak in the United States

In Each IssueEmployer Education Series

Reporting Injuries

Workplace Hazard Assessments continued from page 1

F R O M O U R E X P E R T

animal being handled can trod on or pin a handler

against a wall or fence.

Storage structures such as grain bins and silos

have serious hazards than can lead to death. Many

of these structures fall under the Confined Space

regulations.

Confined spaces have an entirely separate set of

rules and conditions for working in and around

them safely. Stored or crusted grain in a silo for

instance, can flow and lead to entrapment and

suffocation. In silos, gas can form, which is made

up primarily of nitrogen dioxide and this gas will

severely burn lung tissues and may also displace

the oxygen, leading to suffocation.

It is also important to have material safety data

sheets (MSDS) available since many different

chemicals are used in agricultural operations.

The MSDS outline each chemical’s health hazards

and appropriate precautions to take to work

with the chemical safely. An MSDS also describes

the proper storage, handling, use, and disposal

of chemicals to minimize the exposure to animals,

feed, children, groundwater, or the chemical

handler. q

S a f e t y N e w s S t a t e C o m p e n s a t i o n I n s u r a n c e F u n d I s s u e F o u r , 2 0 1 1

Integrating Employee Health and Wellness

T he National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health (NIOSH) recom-

mends integrating wellness with safety

to protect, preserve, and improve the health

and well-being of workers. This approach

has been shown to reduce healthcare insur-

ance costs, lower workers’ compensation

premiums by reducing injuries, and increase

productivity for businesses, while improving

quality of life for workers.

Wellness programs are necessary to educate

and engage the workforce. Rates of obesity,

arthritis, stress, and other chronic health

conditions are at all time highs in the work-

ing population. While these conditions may

result from factors outside of the workplace,

they have a detrimental effect on business

outcomes. Since employees spend a signifi-

cant portion of their lives in the workplace,

it seems like the optimal place to introduce

wellness and lifestyle topics. The workplace

provides opportunities for education on a

variety of topics including healthy eating,

the importance of physical activity, and the

benefits of smoking cessation, as well as

a built-in peer support structure from

other program participants.

As recently as 1996, obesity rates in the

adult population nationwide were below

20%. In 2010, no state had a prevalence of

obesity less than 20%. In California, 24% of

the adult population is obese. (Data from

Centers for Disease Control – Behavioral

Risk Factor Surveillance System) Indi-

vidual choices drive this epidemic, but it is

exacerbated by the sedentary nature of the

knowledge-based, service economy. The

introduction of nutritional education and

physical activity through health promotion

programs has been shown to have a positive

effect at individual workplaces.

One way to introduce physical activity and

possibly integrate nutrition is to peform a

“walkability” audit of the area surrounding

a business. While the main focus is to iden-

tify safe and attractive walking routes around

the worksite and surrounding neighbor-

hood to introduce physical activity during

breaks, an additional benefit is the ability

to highlight healthy eating options within

walking distance.

An intervention at the Koger Center Rhodes

Building in Atlanta including painting, car-

peting, framed artwork, motivational signs,

and music, showed increased stairwell use

by building occupants. Information on this

study and implementing a stairwell improve-

ment project can be found at http://www.

cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/hwi/toolkits/stair-

well/index.htm.

A variety of toolkits and resources for start-

ing a successful health promotion program

can be found online at the NIOSH Total

Worker Health website. http://www.cdc.gov/

niosh/twh/. q

Ryan Horton is an Associate Ergonomics

Professional based in Southern California.

S a f e t y N e w s S t a t e C o m p e n s a t i o n I n s u r a n c e F u n d

T hroughout the year workers experi-

ence insect and spider bites that are

serious enough to make them lose

time on the job.

If a bee stings you, gently remove the

stinger (with tweezers, if possible) and

avoid squeezing the poison sac. Reduce

the swelling or itching by applying an ice

pack or a cloth dipped in cold water. Be

especially wary of yellow jacket stings as these insects feed

on dead animals and may cause blood poisoning.

The black widow spider has a shiny black body, about the

size of a pea. Females have a red or yellow hourglass mark

on their underside. The black widow spider is partial to

outdoor latrines and other places that attract flies. The

bite does not cause a hole in the skin, but soon intense

pain and stiffness set in. Symptoms include fever, nausea,

abdominal pain and chills. For children and the elderly,

black widow bites can be lethal.

The brown recluse spider is a yellowish-tan to dark brown

spider. It has a characteristic fiddle-

shaped mark on its upper body. Its

bite can have painful, disfiguring,

and even deadly results. Victims may

suffer severe pain and stiffness, fever,

weakness, vomiting or a rash. The

recluse’s venom destroys cells and

clots blood, blocking blood vessels

and leading to gangrene. Within 24

hours, the wound erupts into an open

sore ranging from the size of a thumbnail to that of an

adult’s hand.

Spiders typically dwell under rocks, in debris piles, sheds,

closets and attics. They are generally shy and try to avoid

contact with humans until someone comes by and invades

their space. Spiders will attack if they are trapped or

pressed against the skin.

The first line of treatment if you suspect a bite is to apply a

cold compress. However, if you have a bite and experience

other side effects, get medical treatment immediately. q

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Be Smart About Bug Bites

Tenga cuidado con las picaduras de insectos

Safety Topic/Temas de SeguridadI s s u e F o u r , 2 0 1 1

Durante el año los trabajadores sufren picaduras de insec-

tos y arañas que son lo suficientemente graves para hacer

que ellos pierdan tiempo de trabajo.

Si una abeja le pica, retire cuidadosamente el aguijón (con

pinzas, si es posible) y evite oprimir el saco de veneno.

Aplíquese una compresa de hielo o un paño remojado en

agua fría para reducir la hinchazón o la comezón. Tenga

especial cuidado con las picaduras de avispas chaqueta

amarilla (Dolichovespula adulterina) ya que estos insectos

se alimentan de animales muertos y pueden causar enve-

nenamiento de la sangre.

La araña viuda negra tiene un cuerpo negro brillante, del

tamaño de un chícharo. Las hembras tienen una marca

roja o amarilla en forma de reloj de arena en su vientre.

La araña viuda negra tiene preferencias por las letrinas en

exteriores y otros sitios que atraen moscas. La picadura

no perfora la piel, pero muy pronto se desarrolla un dolor

intenso y rigidez. Entre los síntomas se incluyen fiebre,

náuseas, dolor abdominal y escalofríos. La picadura de

arañas viuda negra puede ser mortal para los niños y las

personas de edad avanzada.

La araña reclusa marrón es una araña de color amarillo

pajizo a marrón oscuro. Posee una marca característica

en forma de violín en la cavidad superior de su cuerpo. Su

picadura puede tener resultados dolorosos, desfigurantes

e incluso mortales. Las víctimas pueden sufrir dolores

agudos y rigidez, fiebre, debilidad, vómito o erupciones

cutáneas. El veneno de la reclusa destruye células y

coagula la sangre, lo cual bloquea los vasos sanguíneos

y pueden generar gangrena. En un lapso de 24 horas, la

herida se rompe para formar una lesión abierta que puede

tener el tamaño de un dedo pulgar hasta el tamaño de la

mano de un adulto.

Típicamente, las arañas viven debajo de rocas, bajo apila-

mientos de escombros, en cobertizos, armarios y áticos.

Generalmente son tímidas y tratan de evitar el contacto

con humanos hasta que alguien se les acerca e invade su

espacio. Las arañas atacarán si se sienten atrapadas o si se

les presiona contra la piel.

Los primeros auxilios aplicables si se sospecha la pica-

dura de una araña consisten en aplicar una compresa

fría. Sin embargo, si usted sufre una picadura y siente

otros efectos secundarios, obtenga tratamiento médico

inmediatamente. q

Prsrt StdUS Postage Paid

Permit 803 Zip Code 92887

Loss Control ServicesP.O. BOX 420807

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94142-0807

Please forward to the person responsible for your safety program

ISSUE FOUR 2011

N e w s A b o u t O c c u p a t i o n a l S a f e t y a n d H e a l t h i n A G R I C U L T U R E

Safety News

Employer Education SeriesWe at State Fund take pride in our mission to help make California workplaces safer. Our Employer Education Series seminars are just one of the ways that we partner with employers and the public to help businesses reduce the frequency and severity of workplace injuries, and facilitate regulatory compliance.

Our seminar program is designed to provide information and ideas to help employers comply with regulations, maintain safe worksites, and protect employees. Our convenient half-day seminars are located in State Fund regional offices, and your workplace safety questions will be answered by industry experts.

We offer more than 100 workers’ compensation and health and safety seminars to employers and the public throughout California every year, and these seminars are provided at no cost to you.

Visit http://www.statefundca.com/safety/SafetyAndSeminars.asp to see what new seminar topics are being offered in your area. Seating is limited so, register early! q

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Reporting Work-Related InjuriesState Fund’s Claims Reporting Center (1-888-222-3211) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for policyholders to report injuries as soon as they occur. Agents will do the necessary paperwork to get the claim started and refer the injured to the designated physician or provider.

Within 8 hours of any serious illness or injury (requiring hospitalization over 24 hours, other than for medical observation or where there is permanent employee disfiguration) or death occurring in the workplace or in connection with employment, employers must report the incident to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health. q

This Agricultural Safety News is produced by the Corporate Communications Department of State Fund to assist clients in their loss control efforts. Information or recommendations contained in this publication were obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the date of publication. Information is only advisory and does not presume to be exhaustive or inclusive of all workplace hazards or situations. Permission to reprint articles subject to approval by State Compensation Insurance Fund.

Published by State Compensation Insurance Fund’s Corporate Communications Department. Editor: Sunil Sharma; Managing Editor: Gennenia Gordon. © State Compensation Insurance Fund 2011

Listeria Outbreak in the United StatesThe United States has been experiencing an outbreak of Listeriosis, an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Sources of the contamination have been traced to contaminated melons originating in Colorado, and bags of ro-maine lettuce originating in California. At the time of this writing, the infection has been linked to 28 deaths and 133 infections.

We would like to remind our policyholders that prevention is always the best defense against infection. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water when cooking and before consumption of food. Wash raw vegetables, cook raw food thoroughly, and avoid unpasteurized foods.

Symptoms start as flu-like – diarrhea, cramping pain, headaches and fever in children, the elderly, and anyone suffering from an immune-compromising illness. Pregnant women are especially at risk as the infection could lead to premature delivery, still-birth, or miscarriage.

If you suspect that you may be infected, visit your healthcare provider who will determine if further testing is necessary based on symptoms. Testing is done with stool and blood cultures. Treatment is given through aggressive antibiotics.

Health officials recommend disposing of any produce suspected of carrying the bacterium.

For further information, refer to: http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/ q