Dairy Worker Safety Orientation

Each of the following subject areas presents an overview of the types of hazards dairy workers might encounter while performing that activity and suggestions for actions that might be taken to protect yourself and other from those hazards.

This training series creates a foundation for more detailed workplace discussions between the workers and supervisors for addressing hazards specific to their dairy farm.

This series consists of 8 modules:

1. Animal Handling and Health
2. Chemical Safety
3. Feed Handling and Storage
4. General Safety
5. Machinery Safety in the Field
6. Milking and Chores
7. Personal Protective Equipment
8. Robotic Safety

DAIRY WORKER SAFETY ORIENTATION SERIES DETAILS

ANIMAL HANDLING AND HEALTH

This module will give a basic overview of some animal handling techniques that can be applied on the dairy farm. In addition, it will look at some of the hazards that arise while caring for and managing cattle.

Topics:

• Introduction
• The science of animal health
• Risks of working with cattle
• Learning to read your animals
• Handling and moving cattle
• Animal health & management
• Sick and injured animals
• Diseases
• Medical treatments
• Using chutes and head gates
• Quiz

Duration: Approximately 40 minutes

Pass mark: 80%

Attempts: 3

CHEMICAL SAFETY

A variety of chemicals are present in dairy operations ranging from cleaners and sanitizers to pesticides and veterinary medicines to protect the safety of the milk and animals that produce the milk. Workers handling any of these chemicals must have a basic understanding of how a substance might enter their body and what steps they can take to ensure that they are not exposed to these substances.

Topics:

• Introduction
• Chemical use on dairy farms
• Chemical exposure
• Handling chemicals
• Veterinary preparations
• Pesticides
• Personal protective equipment
• Chemical storage
• Chemical safety
• Quiz

Duration: Approximately 40 minutes

Pass mark: 80%

Attempts: 3

FEED HANDLING AND STORAGE SAFETY

Feed handling and storage safety is an important part of every dairy farm. This training module presents an overview of some of the most common risks that are associated with this type of work.

Topics:

• Introduction
• Grain handling
• Equipment
• Grain storage
• Confined spaces
• Hazards
• Lockout
• Working with bales
• Quiz

Duration: Approximately 40 minutes

Pass mark: 80%

Attempts: 3

GENERAL DAIRY WORKER SAFETY

This training session outlines the principles and practices of health and safety for dairy farm operations. It includes information on the common workplace hazards, health and safety law, rights and responsibilities of the worker and sources of additional information. The module aims to teach workers how to recognize hazards and how to protect themselves and co-workers while on the job.

Topics:

• Introduction
• Occupational health & safety
• Hazards
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Hazardous materials
• Machinery & equipment
• Confined spaces
• Electricity
• Working alone
• Workplace violence
• Working with animals
• Preparing for emergencies
• Quiz

Duration: Approximately 40 minutes

Pass mark: 80%

Attempts: 3

MACHINERY SAFETY IN THE FIELD

Machinery on the farm is the leading cause of fatalities and injuries. Understanding the hazards is essential to reducing the risks you will be exposed to. This training module will highlight some of the basic principles of safety around equipment and information on specific machinery and implements common to many dairy farming operations.

Topics:

• Introduction
• Machines on the farm
• Fatality causes
• Transporting equipment
• Training
• Inspections
• Learning to operate equipment
• Basic machinery safety guidelines
• Dairy farm field equipment
• Operator safety
• Hearing protection
• Quiz

Duration: Approximately 40 minutes

Pass mark: 80%

Attempts: 3

MILKING AND CHORES SAFETY

Chores can include a wide variety of activities ranging from manual labour to equipment operation. This module presents an overview of the hazards and safety strategies that can be used to remain safe while performing routine work.

Topics:

• Introduction
• General barn safety
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Chemicals
• Confined spaces
• Ergonomic lifting
• Milking
• Feeding
• Shovels and forks
• Cleaning
• Manure handling & storage
• Quiz

Duration: Approximately 40 minutes

Pass mark: 80%

Attempts: 3

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SAFETY

If hazards cannot be effectively controlled then the use of personal protective equipment becomes the last resort of protection for the worker. In this training program we will take a look at types of protective equipment that is typically available and discuss the use and limitations of that equipment, in addition to the selection of the appropriate equipment it must be used for its intended purpose and properly maintained.

Topics:

• Introduction
• PPE selection
• PPE use
• PPE care
• Respiratory protection
• Hearing protection
• Everyday protection
• Quiz

Duration: Approximately 40 minutes

Pass mark: 80%

Attempts: 3

SAFETY AROUND ROBOTICS

Robotics on the dairy farm are becoming more common throughout Canada. This type of equipment presents a unique set of hazards for dairy farm workers. This training module will highlight some the hazards specific to this type of equipment in the dairy industry. This information is presented as a basic overview and should be supported with detailed training specific to each particular piece of equipment.

Topics:

• Introduction
• Robotic operating safety
• Mechanical safety
• electrical safety
• Maintenance & repairs
• Dairy robotic systems
• Robotic milking
• Robotic uses

Quiz
Duration: Approximately 40 minutes

Pass mark: 80%

Attempts: 3