On this episode of the WorkSAFE Podcast, we sit down with Dale Muenks, Safety and Risk Specialist at MEM, to talk about animal safety. He has more than 30 years of experience in workplace safety and the risk management field. Muenks assists policyholders with finding the right safety solutions for their business.
Handling animals comes with unique risks and challenges. It’s essential to equip yourself with the right knowledge and techniques to protect yourself. From understanding animal behavior to implementing proper safety protocols, we’ll cover various aspects of what you need to know to stay safe on the job.
Listen to this episode of the WorkSAFE Podcast, or read the show notes below.
What kind of industries work with animals?
For most people, the first industry that comes to mind when working with animals is agriculture. And while agricultural businesses deal with everything from horse operations to hog confinement, they aren’t the only ones who deal with furry and feathered friends alike. Several industries work with animals, Muenks points out, including:
- Municipalities. They are often responsible handling stray or aggressive animals as part of animal control.
- Research operations. Researchers spend their time observing and interacting with animals to gather data and insights.
- Zoos. Employees at zoos are exposed to the one of the widest varieties of animals year-round.
Controlled vs. uncontrolled environments
When working with animals, no two situations are the same. However, they can be classified into one of two general categories: controlled and uncontrolled.
A controlled setting restricts animals to a pen or enclosure. For example, in agricultural or research environments. To maintain safety, facilities often choose to limit visits by unqualified visitors or put specific safety requirements in place. For instance, showering before and after working with animals or wearing non-slip footwear.
In an uncontrolled setting, the animals and environment are more difficult to control. Employees often encounter wildlife, like bats and raccoons, or local animals on the loose. Muenks points out that employees have to have the right equipment to work in these settings, such as bite-proof gloves or snare poles.
Animal safety: Common injuries on the job
Animals are unpredictable. From handling active animals to lifting and moving workplace equipment or supplies, several injury risks are present, including:
- Animal bites
- Strains and sprains
- Lacerations
- Contusions
“I would say probably the biggest more catastrophic type losses are what we would consider a struck by,” Muenks added. This occurs when someone slams against a solid surface, like a wall or gate, or worse – by a large animal.
Limiting disease exposure
When it comes to working with animals, no injury is too small or insignificant to address. Disease exposure is a hazard of working with animals.
One of the most common injuries is an animal bite. Address bites or open cuts as soon as possible. A tetanus shot – and in certain situations, rabies protocol – is often the next step and preventative measure. Keeping a wound clean and infection-free is a critical part of the healing process.
Wearing the right PPE, including respirators, eye protection, and disposable suits in certain environments, can limit this.
Animal safety: 3 ways to reduce safety hazards
Employers can manage risk exposure by teaching employees about animal behavior, giving them the right protective equipment, and training them for the environments they’ll be working in.
Teach animal behavior
Although some animals are more personable than others based on their experience with human, they all have one common thread: unpredictability. A long day of travel or an unfamiliar environment can spark agitation or anxiety for them.
The best tool employers can equip employees with is the behavioral signs of the animals they work with. Do their ears flatten or stand up? Do they pace or become still? Are they more protective when their young are nearby? Watching for signs and staying alert are essential, and in some situations, there is no substitute for simply getting out of the way.
Train employees for their environment
Train employees for the places and spaces they will encounter on the job. For example, the right protocol when entering or exiting a hen house or cattle pen. Preparing someone to work in a controlled environment is more straightforward than in an uncontrolled environment. Employees working in ever-changing places face ever-changing exposures.
“We had one very serious claim where a gentleman was working for a company, and they were doing some pest control,” Muenks shared. “They had to get on a roof, and of course, he fell off the roof in the process.” It’s important to train employees on the tool they’ll need to use, such as ladders, and the locations they’ll be dispatched to, like attics and crawl spaces.
Wear proper PPE
Animal enclosures produce a lot dust and flying debris. Bacteria often spreads through exposure to fecal matter. For example, air quality is a major hazard when working with chickens or birds. In a completely enclosed facility where clean air is limited, even passing through without protection is a risk.
Equip employees with the clothing and equipment they need to avoid airborne and bacterial hazards. Muenks says that at a minimum, employees should be wearing an N95 when working in or cleaning a facility where animals have been.
Animal safety: Changes employers can make today
Animal operations are unusual in that safety precautions are largely dependent on the type of animals employees work with. Sheep and cows are going to pose very different risks than tigers and monkeys. But Muenks shared a few things all employers who work with animals should be doing:
- Debrief with employees. Before getting started for the day, debrief employees. Spend 5-10 minutes discussing what each person’s responsibility will be, where to position themselves, and any observations, such as which animals are likely to cause issues.
- Allow for cool-down time. Whether it’s zoo animals or farm animals, travel and transport can cause unpredictable behaviors to spike. When possible, allow time for animals to cool down and spend some time alone before making the next move.
- Set expectations. To build a strong safety culture in the workplace, leaders have to set expectations. How do treat the animals you work with? Do you wear protective clothing and equipment when you should? Employees take their cues from those in leadership positions.
For Muenks, it’s important that employers don’t rely on assumptions in the workplace. Growing up around animals or on a particular kind of farm is not a substitute for safety training. Assumptions allow room for others to get hurt.
“I think the biggest thing that I try to impart on all the different accounts that I work with that have animal exposure is really training employees on animal behavior and being able to see the signs and recognize them,” Muenks added. “And then how to handle that animal once you see those signs.”