University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska , USA.
J Agromedicine. 2010 Jul;15(3):216-25. doi: 10.1080/1059924X.2010.486283.
This paper summarizes "Respiratory Issues in Confined Feeding Operations," a panel discussion at the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conference, "Be Safe, Be Profitable: Protecting Workers in Agriculture," Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, January 27-28, 2010. Occupational exposure to confined animal feeding operations is associated with cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Published data shows that 20% to 40% of hog confinement workers experience such symptoms, although most are able to continue working in this industry. Endotoxin is one component of hog barn dust that is associated with respiratory disease in workers. Endotoxin levels on cattle feedlots can also be in the range linked with occupational lung disease. The cattle industry has not yet prepared guidance documents for producers, in part because much less is known about the prevalence of lung disease in its workers. However, the pork industry provides information for pork producers on reducing their respiratory health risks through a multifaceted approach, including the use of respirators. Some jobs cannot be done safely without respiratory protection, such as entering manure pits. It is less clear for other jobs when respirators should be worn. Use of respiratory protection should be considered but not mandated for all persons working in close proximity to livestock in dusty conditions. A respiratory protection program may also serve as a cost effective biosecurity measure to protect animals from human pathogens such as influenza virus. Proper design and management of barn ventilation systems is critical for maintaining temperature and humidity levels for optimal animal growth; as well as decreasing the level of gases and respirable dusts. The pork and the cattle industries support occupational health and safety; however, the governmental guidance and recommendations for such programs are limited for the agricultural industries as a whole. The industries should lead the way in the effort to improve respiratory protection for workers. Overall, a team approach that includes input from managers, workers, and veterinarians is important for the reduction of respiratory hazards on livestock farms.
本文总结了 2010 年 1 月 27-28 日在美国农业安全与健康理事会/国家职业安全与健康研究所会议“安全盈利：保护农业劳动者”上的一个小组讨论：“密闭饲养操作中的呼吸问题”。密闭式动物饲养操作中的职业暴露与咳嗽、喘息和呼吸急促有关。已公布的数据表明，20%至 40%的生猪饲养工人有此类症状，尽管大多数人仍能够继续在这个行业工作。内毒素是猪舍粉尘的一个成分，与工人的呼吸道疾病有关。牛饲养场的内毒素水平也可能处于与职业性肺病相关的范围内。该行业尚未为生产者制定指导文件，部分原因是对其工人肺部疾病的流行情况了解甚少。然而，猪肉行业为猪肉生产者提供了通过多方面方法（包括使用呼吸器）降低其呼吸道健康风险的信息。在没有呼吸保护的情况下，有些工作是无法安全完成的，例如进入粪坑。在其他工作中，何时应佩戴呼吸器则不太清楚。在与牲畜在灰尘弥漫的环境中近距离工作的所有人员中，应考虑使用呼吸保护装置，但不必强制使用。呼吸保护装置的使用可能也可以作为一种具有成本效益的生物安全措施，以保护动物免受人类病原体（如流感病毒）的侵害。畜舍通风系统的正确设计和管理对于维持最佳动物生长所需的温度和湿度水平以及减少气体和可吸入粉尘水平至关重要。猪肉和牛肉行业都支持职业健康和安全；然而，政府针对此类计划的指导意见和建议在整个农业行业中是有限的。这些行业应在努力改善工人呼吸保护方面发挥带头作用。总的来说，一个包括管理人员、工人和兽医在内的团队方法对于减少牲畜养殖场的呼吸危害很重要。
