Meghan Belnap 2m 476 #animalsanitation
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
When working in the animal farming industry, it can be rewarding and stressful managing multiple animals at a given time. It’s also important to have good sanitation practices on a regular basis to prevent illnesses such as food-borne illnesses, pests, and other diseases from spreading between the animals or even you. When viruses and contagions are shared between animals and people, new viruses can actually form that are hazardous to humans, making sanitation a public health imperative. With several steps taken in the farming industry, you can properly manage the farm and ensure a safe and sanitized environment.
Proper Disinfection
Proper disinfectant is important in farming and should be one of the most important components used to clean crops and livestock exposure. Farm disinfectants come in a variety of forms such as granules, gels, powders, and liquids. Disinfecting surfaces, floors, tools, equipment, and food processing areas is extremely important to prevent bacteria and contamination from occurring on the farm. This can also help prevent potential recalls in the event your process food at the farm.
Wear Disposable Gloves
When interacting with animals in a farm setting, providing disposable gloves around the farm will help prevent cross-contamination and parasites from transmitted from animals to animals and people to people. Glove stations should be installed throughout the farm for easy access. If there are multiple processing stations or animal stations such as pigs and chickens, gloves should be in those areas so employees can easily access them.
Handwash Station
Just as gloves are important, having a handwash station for employees is pertinent to farm sanitation. When employees are handling animals, meat, dairy, or cleaning, washing hands prevents bacteria or other foreign substances from remaining on your hands. Since some animals can carry parasites, washing hands will prevent parasites from being transferred to you or other animals.
Booties For Your Shoes
Transparent elastic disposable overboots should be required when working on a farm. Disposable booties help keep the sole of the shoe clean and help prevent you from spreading bacteria from the farm to other locations such as your home or stores. Further, the boots also prevent visitors from spreading bacteria to farm equipment or animals. These boots help ensure biosecurity requirements when visiting farms and having visitors. The top of the bootie has an elastic boot cuff to make sure the bootie doesn’t fall off. These booties are a great way to buy in bulk as they come in packs of 100 and can be easily placed at farm entrances and building entrances.
Working with farm animals has many benefits to include boosting supplies, crops, and livestock to others. Farms also help produce food for the general public but ensuring the food is safe, nutritious, and free from parasites and bacteria, it’s important to take these necessary steps to prevent unnecessary bacteria from entering the farm.
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