Chemicals are used in many dairy farm operations, and many of these chemicals pose a wide range of health and physical hazards. Chemical exposure may cause or contribute to many serious health effects such as heart ailments, central nervous or reproductive systems, kidney and lung damage, sterility, cancer, burns and rashes. Some chemicals may also pose physical hazards and have the potential to cause fires and explosions and other serious accidents.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires all dairy employers to provide a safe and healthful workplace free of recognized hazards and follow all applicable standards. Click here to view one of these standards, OSHA Recordkeeping regulation (29 CFR 1904). According to the recordkeeping standard, employers are required to prepare and maintain records of occupational injuries and illnesses.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is the second in a series of online columns from University of Texas, School of Public Health assistant professor David Douphrate and his dairy industry colleagues about ways that dairy managers and owners can comply with health and safety regulations. Click here to read the first article in this series. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) authorizes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to inspect job sites. Almost all OSHA inspections are unannounced. A U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA compliance officer may inspect the farm at any reasonable hour as a result of an employee complaint or a reportable accident.