Women can do any job on the farm or ranch, but if they are expecting a baby or planning a pregnancy, it is advisable to take extra safety measures or avoid certain situations.
Knesha Rose-Davison is the Public Health Program Director for the AgriSafe Network, a non-profit organization of health professionals and agricultural educators. She gives safety tips for pregnant women in a free webinar on agrisafe.org.
Reproductive problems extend beyond the nine months of pregnancy. “The things you do before, during, and after your pregnancy can affect your future reproductive health cycle,” says Rose-Davison.
Rural women face health disparities compared to their urban counterparts, partly due to a limited number of rural health care providers specializing in women’s health and a lack of access to preventive services.
Dangers to farm animals
Everyone is at risk when working with livestock; For women ages 15 to 59, cattle are the most likely cause of injury or death on the farm, says Rose-Davison. Kicks or bruises are obvious hazards, but pregnant workers must also avoid exposure to hormones and zoonotic infections in all farm animals.
Two common causes of concern are oxytocin and prostaglandin. “Women need to be very careful to avoid getting stuck with a needle and working with hormones during pregnancy,” says Rose-Davison.
Oxytocin is given to cattle and other farm animals to induce labor, help with milk loss, and treat mastitis. Prostaglandin is used to synchronize the reproductive cycles of animals. Accidental needle sticking can lead to loss of pregnancy in humans. Rose-Davison recommends avoiding contact with these injections entirely during pregnancy.
Pregnancies can also be threatened by zoonotic infections (which can be transmitted between animals and humans) such as brucellosis, Q fever, listeriosis, chlamydiosis, toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis.
“Women often work with the reproductive cycle of farm animals and deal with mucus and all kinds of fluids that can be dangerous when pregnant,” says Rose-Davison.
A large animal vet featured in the webinar says, “I stayed away from joking and lambs and all small ruminants, even if they had normal pregnancies and no abortions. Q fever can be nebulized, so I stopped doing small caesarean sections on ruminants during pregnancy. Every aborting animal would be a risk. ”
Rose-Davison says that contact with any fluid, including an animal’s saliva, can pose a risk of infection. “If you don’t work from head to toe wearing personal protective equipment, you can put yourself and your pregnancy at risk, regardless of whether the cattle give birth healthy or abort,” she says.
In addition to protective equipment, hand washing is the key to prevention.
Unseen dangers
Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should also use caution when working with or around agricultural chemicals. Read manufacturers’ labels and health warnings carefully and consult your doctor before coming into contact with any pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
“Be very attentive to everything you work with,” she says. “If you are an employee, you have the right to access labels. If you need to use the chemicals, take the time to understand the risks and safety protocols. ”
Carbon monoxide is another threat to avoid. “You can meet him in cattle sheds and when using high-pressure cleaners,” says Rose-Davison. “It is odorless, harmful to the woman, and is a concentrated exposure to an unborn baby.”
It’s also important to monitor your water, especially if it comes from a well and can be prone to runoff. “Infants fed spring water are at higher risk of nitrate toxicity, which is the # 1 cause of blue baby syndrome,” she says. “Make sure your water is safe for your child.”
Duties and Rights
Employers are required by law to inform workers of the effects of exposure to the chemicals used and are prohibited from retaliatory against workers who request compliance or file complaints. “OSHA wants to help employers keep their employees safe, not just punish them for violations,” says Rose-Davison.
“Understanding what you are working with and how to protect yourself is very important,” she says. “Read the label and wear appropriate PPE that fits, including gloves, clothing, safety glasses, and respirators.”
Employers should pay attention to the needs of migrant workers. Almost a quarter are women, their average age is 33 years.
“Migrant workers move from employer to employer, which means they are unlikely to have medical facilities, which means their care can be interrupted,” she says. “No matter where you live or what type of work you do, you have the right to a safe and healthy pregnancy and appropriate safety information for your work.”
Learn more
Visit agrisafe.org for more information on this and other health and safety topics. Webinars, printable signs, and other resources are free with registration.
To file a complaint with OSHA, call 800 / 321-6742 or visit osha.gov/whistleblower/WBComplaint.
source https://www.bisayanews.com/2021/09/24/pregnant-farmers-must-take-extra-precautions/
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