Occupational diseases

Remember that not all farm hazards will harm you immediately. Poor animal handling and hygiene practices can lead to disease in farm workers and their families. Diseases which can be transmitted from humans to animals are called zoonoses. The most common zoonosis is leptospirosis, whose symptoms are often confused with a severe bout of the flu'. However, leptospirosis (and other zoonoses) can cause much more long-term damage than the flu'.

Some examples of hazards which can cause diseases are:

• Effluent from cowsheds or piggeries not draining away properly - lying in stagnant pools outside or beside footpaths.
• Hosing out animal housing wearing jandals and shorts - legs getting splashed.
• Uneven floors in animal houses where contaminated water has collected.

Some ways you can reduce the risk of zoonoses are:

• Dispose of dead animals promptly and in accordance with health guidelines.
• Avoid contact with contaminated water.
• Ensure milk is pasteurised or boiled.
• Treat and protect cuts quickly.
• Ensure benches and floors are cleaned with detergents and disinfectants in animal work areas.
• Wear protective clothing at all times.