Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-2023
Abstract
Our objective was to understand dairy employees' perceptions and educational needs at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A bilingual (English and Spanish), anonymous survey targeted at dairy employees was circulated nationwide via university and allied industry media outlets. Responses (n = 63) from 11 states were received (May–Sep. 2020). Respondents worked in herds ranging from 50 to 40,000 animals in size. Dairy managers (33%) responded mostly to the English survey (52%), whereas entry-level workers (67%) chose the Spanish format (76%). Survey results highlighted different perspectives, educational needs, and preferred sources of information between English- and Spanish-speaking dairy workers. Overall, 83% of the respondents were somewhat concerned or very concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents (51%) indicated that their main concern was “to bring the virus from work to home and make my family sick.” Most dairy employees (83%) perceived that their employers were somewhat or very concerned about the pandemic. Respondents (65%) indicated that COVID-19 informative training was provided at the workplace, but training was more frequently undertaken among dairy managers (86%) than entry-level workers (53%). Most trainings (72%) were limited to posters on walls. The preferred means of information delivery was through in-person meetings at work (35%), with YouTube (29%) and on-demand videos (27%) as second and third options. The main source of information regarding the pandemic was social media (52%). Frequent handwashing (81%), limiting on-farm visits (70%), limiting agglomeration in break rooms (65%), hand sanitizer use (60%), and social distancing (60%) were the most common safety measures implemented at the workplace among the options given to respondents. Few respondents (38%) indicated that face-covering was required at work. Successful emergency plans on dairies should consider the outreach needs and preferences of dairy workers.
Publication Title
JDS Communications
Volume
4
Issue
3
First Page
186
Last Page
190
DOI of Published Version
10.3168/jdsc.2022-0253
Rights
© 2023 The Authors
Recommended Citation
Ferreira, Fernanda; Rovai, Maristela; Chahine, Mireille; de Haro-Martí, Mario E.; Wenz, John; Dalton, Joseph; and Silva-del-Rio, Noelia, "Perspectives of Dairy Employees at the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of Health Risks and Educational Needs" (2023). Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present. 18.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/dairy_pubs/18
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Included in
Agriculture Commons, Dairy Science Commons, Public Health Commons