Every milking parlor is unique in its configuration (i.e., herringbone, parallel, rotary or other variations), staffing levels, milking routine, shift duration, milking equipment and tools (i.e., cluster design, dip cup or spray, etc.), and other characteristics.

The Dairy Worker Safety Training Using Mobile Technologies, provided by the University of Texas School of Public Health and the New Mexico State University Dairy Extension, is a new learning initiative that delivers safety training content to dairy workers using mobile devices.

In the previous Progressive Dairyman safety article, we discussed the importance of owner and management commitment to an on-farm safety program. The article communicated that it is imperative that owners and managers become involved and participate in a safety program.

There are several types of emergencies that can occur on a dairy farm. Some result from the forces of nature, some involve fire and explosion, and others may involve system failures. Some emergencies involve traffic or transportation problems, and some result from the behavior of people and animals.

February is not your typical “discuss silage safety month.” However, in light of recent silage-related injuries and fatalities with pile management, this month’s safety article is focused on hazards associated with managing silage in bunker silos and drive-over piles. Silage injury or fatality statistics are not easily collected; however, silage-related fatalities continue to be reported in local media outlets.

Most dairy farms, in order to maximize barn capacity, milk around the clock only to be interrupted by cleaning cycles and possible equipment malfunctions or inclement weather. Many dairy farms, especially those milking cows three times per day, operate 24-hours a day, 7 days per week. This around-the-clock schedule requires employees to work different shifts.

As modern dairy operations around the world expand, farmers have become increasingly dependent on immigrant workers to milk cows, feed cows and treat cows. Hispanic laborers from Mexico, Central and South America are increasingly being utilized on larger U.S. dairies.

Heat stress in dairy cows has long been recognized as having significant negative impacts on dairy production parameters, including milk yield and reproduction, and therefore is a substantial financial burden to dairy producers. It’s estimated that problems related to heat stress on the farm can cost in excess of $900 a year in the U.S. alone.

Agricultural production is among the most dangerous occupations and accounts for a large percentage of worker fatalities and injuries. Researchers have identified dairy farming as having the second-highest risk for injuries among all U.S. agricultural sectors. Over the past three decades, the dairy industry has changed to more efficiently produce dairy products to meet higher demands. Herd sizes continue to increase, forcing farms to employ more workers.