Hygienic Management of Dairy Farm Workers to Contain the Spread of Covid-19

The recent COVID-19 events and realities are unprecedented. We are truly seeing history being made which will have an effect on the dairy industry and society as a whole. The World Health Organization has classified the Covid-19 outbreak as a global pandemic because it is affecting countries all over the world. Individuals and organizations can fight coronavirus by taking steps to prevent its transmission, which will lower the infection rate and prevent health care systems from being overwhelmed. The spread of the virus has raised concerns about how it may affect public health as well as our economy, including dairy production. The global dairy sector is taking the impact of COVID-19 extremely seriously.

Dairy farms are 24-hour, 7-day per week business and operations must continue. Currently no vaccine is there to prevent this virus; following farm management considerations specific to dairy farm operations and workers can help stop human to human spread of this virus:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains more than 60% alcohal. Keep all the areas of the dairy farm stocked with disinfectants and soap.

• Wash your hands before you eat after working in the milking parlor or other areas of the dairy.
• Access to the dairy farm by non-essential persons should be limited.
• A single entry/exit to the farm should be maintained continuously to control non-essential workers or visitors from gaining access to the farm.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, both on and off the dairy.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Workers should wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.
• When you get home after working in the dairy, always take a shower and thoroughly wash your work clothes. Workers should know COVID-19 symptoms.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Social distancing should be practiced such as when there is a need to get supplies from a farm and feed store.
• Talk with your employees about coronavirus, how it spreads, and how to prevent getting infected.
• Provide guidance to help employees clean and disinfect housing.
• Print the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) factsheets and posters, paste in your workplace and employee housing facilities.
• Clean and disinfect your workplace. Clean and disinfect any areas where employees congregate or routinely touch items such as doorknobs and computer keyboards.
• Set up daily and weekly cleaning schedules.
• Provide cleaning supplies such as cleaning solutions, buckets, mops, brushes, etc for cleaning at work and for those living in employer-provided housing.
• Farm tours should be suspended until such time as the human-to-human transmission risk has abated.
• Use teleconferences to talk with advisors who do not need to be on the farm such as nutritionist, banker/loan officer, extension personnel, etc.
• For dairy farms with retail stores on-site, operate in accordance with the recommendations of federal, state and local health officials.
• Communicate with employees that they should stay home if they are sick. Be sure your employees understand that their health and that of their co-workers’ comes first. Communicate and make a plan to cover for sick employees.
• Prepare your disaster contingency plan. What will you do if 50% of your employees become sick and unable to work?
• Consider talking with neighboring dairies about sharing workers if one dairy finds itself in a worker shortage crisis.

Farmers and their workers should follow the advice of the Ministry of Health with regard to keeping good hygiene standards, including washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes. Currently there is no evidence animals (pets or livestock) can spread COVID-19. It is unlikely that COVID-19 can be transmitted through food, and there isn’t evidence to date of this happening. Networks of farming colleagues and friends might be useful to talk through how you might support each other in different scenarios. Keep up to date with developments and advice from the Ministry of Health.