Personal Safety
Dairy owners, managers, and producers have always prioritized safety, yet agriculture still ranks among the most hazardous industries. Every day, about 100 agricultural workers suffer a lost-work-time injury, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
The most common hazards at dairy farm operations are associated with cattle handling, manure storage, and using machinery and equipment. Find resources on personal safety and prevention, including manure storage hazards and gas monitoring, farm equipment safety, and animal handling tips.
Dairy Cattle Handling and Safety
Animal handling best practices have to do with minimizing cows’ stress factors during moving cattle, feeding, milking, and cleaning stalls and beds. Handlers are advised to understand and use flight zones, avoid the cows' blind spots, approach livestock slowly, and speak calmly.
In this section, dairy producers can find more detailed information on how to use the flight zone and point of balance, and other animal handling tips.
Thiswebinar provides advice on safe restraint methods for dairy cows and heifers. You can also accessdairy safety training videos, aligned with AFNR standards.
A betterunderstanding of animal behavior, establishing routines, moving slowly and deliberately, always having an escape route when working with animals in close quarters – all these can help avoid safety risks at dairy operations.
Gas Monitoring and Personal Safety
Another serious safety risk dairy livestock producers need to be always aware of is manure storage and gas monitoring. Dairy manure, especially in cases ofgypsum bedding, can produce dangerously high levels of hydrogen sulfide.
Producers should take precautions, such as installing efficient ventilation systems and consider implementing gas monitoring systems. Additional information onfacilities, ventilation systems, manure management, and gas monitors is available on this site.
Dairy Biosecurity
Protecting farmworkers, livestock, and pastures from infectious diseases is essential for any dairy operations. Farm managers should maintain biosecurity plans, including online training materials and videos. Biosecurity is about preventing, minimizing, and controlling cross-contamination of body fluids between animals and with equipment.
Look into Penn State Extensionresources on biosecurity and prevention. You can also access thePennsylvania Dairy Health and Biosecurity Manual. Additional information on reducing E. coli infections, foot and mouth disease, and other common cattle diseases is available in theDairy Cattle Health and Diseases section of this website.
Knowledge of the standards for head, eye, and foot protection for farmworkers can also be useful to producers, dedicated to ensuring the safety of dairy workers, feeders, milkers, and calf caretakers.
ArticlesSafely Making and Handling Large Hay Bales
Many producers have transitioned from making small square bales (weighing 40 to 70 pounds) to large round or square bales (weighing 900 to 1700 pounds). While these larger bales help address space and labor constraints, they are riskier to handle.
WebinarsFree
Communicating with Farmers Under Stress
When08/19/2025Length1 hourEvent FormatVirtual | LiveThis discussion for ag industry professionals will help you learn the signs of stress and how to help.
ArticlesThe Dangers of Dairy Farming
Farm safety includes proper machinery operation, awareness of manure pit dangers, and mental health and stressors.
ArticlesFarm Biosecurity: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
The recent outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have left many farms in a dire situation. Use readily available resources to help you develop a farm emergency plan.
ArticlesFarmers and Ticks: What You Need to Know
It is important to check yourself for ticks daily when working outside.
ArticlesCreating a Safer Workplace at Your Dairy
Simple reminders serve as effective reinforcement of good, safe work practices.
ArticlesWhat Influences Our Choices on Farm Safety?
Keep up the conversation with your fellow producers as well as your industry professionals. Encourage safe farm practices.
ArticlesSafety Risks in the Milking Parlor - Non-biological Exposures
The milking parlor is a busy environment where safety hazards can include physical injury, noise, slips and falls, and chemicals. Research related to these hazards and interventions is discussed.
ArticlesSafety Risks in the Milking Parlor - Biological Exposures
Biological hazards including bacteria, viruses, and bioaerosols can be found in the milking parlor. This article provides an update on some of these hazards and interventions for minimizing exposure when working in the milking parlor.
ArticlesRespiratory Exposure to Mycotoxins and Farming
There is an elevated risk of exposure to aflatoxin for those working in agriculture including managing contaminated grains along with processing and handling animal feed.
ArticlesRespiratory Protection for Dairy Producers
Choosing the correct respirator for the job reduces injury or long term illness.
ArticlesUse Personal Gas Monitors to Avoid Exposure to Toxic Hydrogen Sulfide
Gas monitoring is always recommended when working around toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide. Fortunately, affordable portable personal gas monitors are available for on-farm use.
ArticlesAmmonia Monitoring in Barns Using Simple Instruments
This article describes simple relatively-inexpensive instruments for detecting ammonia gas concentration in animal housing to assure proper air quality.
ArticlesFarm Safety Practices for the Infrequent Farmer
Harvest time is one of those times when "infrequent" workers are called upon to step in and cover farm tasks when shorthanded. Safety is a concern for these short-term workers.
ArticlesGypsum Bedding and Deadly Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
Increased awareness of manure gas dangers saves lives during manure storage agitation.
ArticlesGypsum-Bedding and Manure-Storage Gas Emissions Additional Resources
Quick guide to key findings for hydrogen sulfide gas release when high sulfur content manure is agitated.
ArticlesSafety Risk from Manure Storages of Dairy Cows Bedded with Gypsum
Findings from on-farm monitoring of dairies using gypsum as stall bedding show a link has been found to highly toxic levels of hydrogen sulfide gas during manure movement and agitation.
ArticlesEstándar de OSHA sobre Protección de Maquinarias
Hoja Informativa sobre Estándar de OSHA sobre Protección de Maquinarias
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Hoja Informativa sobre Estabilidad e Inestabilidad del Tractor.
ArticlesConfined Space Manure Storage Hazards
Automated manure and waste water handling is most often accomplished by collecting and storing manure and waste in storages located directly beneath the animals or in a nearby containment structure.
ArticlesReoccurring Themes of Manure Gas Deaths
Manure gas deaths keep occurring around the world. What can we do to make manure handling safer?
ArticlesThe Benefits of Playing It Safe
Farm safety goes beyond equipment operation, personal protective equipment, and safe animal handling.
ArticlesSafety First with Livestock
Every year, hundreds of accidents occur on the farm whether it's caused by livestock, tractors, machinery, or mistakes.
WebinarsFree
Women Rooted in Agriculture: All about AgrAbility
WhenWatch NowRecordedOct 12, 2022Event FormatOn-Demand | RecordedLearn about how to get injured individuals back to work to do what they love during this informative virtual event.
ArticleseAnimal Handling Tips
Many farm people have never stopped and actually analyzed why animals behave as they do and, more importantly, what this behavior may mean to their own personal safety.
