December 4, 2024 – By Ching Lee – To protect employees who work with dairy cows and poultry from H5N1 avian influenza, farmers should have a baseline plan in place even if their animals are not infected.
Such advice and other guidelines were shared last month during a webinar hosted by the California Farm Bureau-affiliated Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS).
Gene Glendenning, advisory program manager for the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), said most agricultural employers already have an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) in place, and those with animals have a stand-alone zoonotic aerosol update or implement communicable disease plans that outline procedures to control diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
“It's about having certain things in place and ready to go,” Glendenning said. “You don’t want to find out one of your employees is sick and then go out and try to get medical attention.”
Bryan Little, senior director of policy advocacy for the California Farm Bureau and chief operating officer of FELS, called on agricultural employers to establish an IIPP in every workplace. Farms operating without equipment become easy targets for Cal/OSHA inspectors, “like shooting fish in a barrel,” he said.
Unlike the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when a very active wildfire season was accompanied by a surge in demand from medical personnel, resulting in a shortage of N95 respirators, Little Noted's personal protective equipment (PPE) is over today a variety of providers readily available sources. He encouraged farms to provide N95 devices if their employees want to use them.
According to the California Department of Public Health, 31 human cases of H5N1 avian influenza have been confirmed in California as of December 2nd. All but one were dairy workers in the Central Valley who had direct contact with infected cattle. The
All workers had mild symptoms, primarily eye infections, and did not require hospitalization.
The state also continues to investigate an avian influenza case involving an Alameda County child who had no known contact with an infected animal. Health authorities said they were investigating whether the child had been in contact with wild birds. All other confirmed cases were animal-to-human transmissions; human-to-human transmission is not known.
As of Dec. 2, 475 California dairies have been affected by bird flu since the first case was confirmed in the state in August.
Dairy workers can become infected with the virus in the milking parlor if infected raw milk is splashed in their faces. You could also catch H5N1 through the air if an infected animal sneezes or coughs in your direction. Glendenning said that's why face masks or face shields are important because it appears infections can occur through the eyes, mouth or nasal membranes. For those working with infected herds, “respiratory protection will be even more important,” he added.
“Biosecurity protocols are extremely important” to protect dairy herds, poultry flocks and workers, said Bill Krycia, a retired Cal/OSHA agricultural enforcement coordinator. Whether farmers use the model program developed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture or a similar program, Krycia said, “You really, really, really need one.”
To avoid potentially contracting the disease, people should not pick up dead birds or dead cats, Krycia said. If employees are sick, they should stay at home. Handwashing remains a cornerstone of biosecurity and employee safety, he said.
“That's one of the things (Cal/OSHA inspectors) will be looking for when they conduct on-site investigations,” Krycia added. “Ensure there are adequate handwashing facilities.”
For establishments that have not been quarantined, a basic transmissible zoonotic aerosol plan should include written instructions to protect employees, including rules for hygiene, disease investigation, training, what to look for, biosecurity, and use of PPE. Employers must keep records of how they comply with the law, Glendenning said. You should also have a doctor who agrees to work with the facility in the event of an outbreak.
“Think about what you would need in terms of PPE and don’t wait until we have a problem,” Glendenning said.
When a farm is quarantined, security measures are tightened, Glendenning emphasized. The company must post signs at all entrances to restricted areas where animal diseases could occur. To enter these areas, employees must wear PPE, including respiratory protection, full-body coveralls, headgear and gloves.
There should be a supervisor who is knowledgeable about safety procedures and can train other employees and enforce rules in restricted areas. Cal/OSHA requires farms with infected animals to keep a time log of who enters restricted areas. Those working in these areas should receive health screenings, medications and vaccinations as they become available.
There is still no vaccine against H5N1. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last month that it was working on a rapid test for humans.
Employees working in confined areas must use elastomeric, half- or full-face respirators, or powered air-purifying respirators, not N95 respirators or filtering respirators. They should also have access to rooms for changing and showering so that they do not have to transport dirty PPE or clothing.
The rules for dealing with infected flocks or herds are more protective and detailed and apply to the culling, transport, killing, eradication or disposal of infected animals. Procedures include how employees should decontaminate boots and dispose of PPE and animal waste, and how to control their contact with infected animals or waste.
“We need to make sure we don’t take anything out of the restricted area,” Glendenning said, adding that farmers should develop a disinfection plan for trucks and equipment.
There are also regulations for disinfecting areas housing infected animals or their waste. Such plans should include risk assessment of biological, chemical, physical and safety hazards.
“You need to make sure you don’t get overexposed to the disinfectant as well,” Glendenning said, noting that respiratory protection may be required.
Employers must have a medical care program in place for employees entering restricted areas before a problem occurs, rather than when they discover there is an infected herd, Glendenning said. Consult a doctor knowledgeable about zoonoses and chemical hazards. Employees working in restricted areas must undergo an initial medical examination followed by follow-up care. The doctor then signs an authorization for the employee to work in a restricted area wearing a respirator. The program must maintain the confidentiality of employees' medical information.
(Ching Lee is deputy editor of Ag Alert. She can be contacted at clee@cfbf.com.)
The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 32,000 members across the state and as part of a nationwide network of more than 5.5 million Farm Bureau members.
Source: Reprinted with permission from CFBF