Women's Health

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Women's Health

Introduction
OSHA Standard(s)
Hazard
Prevention & Control
FAQs
Links

Introduction
Today, nearly 60% of women age 16 and over participate in the workforce. Very little information has been collected on the overall safety and health concerns of women agricultural workers.

There are many health risks to women living or working on livestock farms. Most hog facilities today use drugs or chemicals that may have a potential impact on human health, particularly women’s reproductive health. This section will address some of the hazards associated with hog farms, including trauma, infectious agents, and the chemical and drug interactions that are most dangerous to employees of both genders, how to avoid coming into contact with these chemicals and animal health drugs.

Many of the topics on this website can be cross-linked. There are women’s specific issues related to ergonomics, sanitation, reproductive hazards, and PPE.

OSHA Standard(s)
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) requires employers to comply with hazard-specific safety and health standards. In addition, pursuant to Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, employers must provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.

OSHA has previously used the General Duty Clause to cite employers that have allowed employees to be exposed to potential serious physical harm related to injection injuries, availability of clean restrooms,

Hazard
Excessive strain or stress. This is an area of concern for pregnant workers. Excessive strain or stress can occur during work that was routine and non-hazardous prior to pregnancy. The differences are do the woman’s changes in abdominal musculature associated with the progession of gestation and because of changes in the center of gravity associated with pregnancy. Excessive strain or stress can occur during normal work, when climbing in and out of equipment or areas, moving feed, and carrying heavy loads of any sort. [From Kristin Tondra]

Inhaled gases. Common at the worksite, but can be dangerous to a pregnant worker and cause problems for the fetus. Examples include fumes from diesel machinery, aerosolized pesticides or herbicides, and waste gases from livestock. [From Kristin Tondra]

Chemical hazards. Some agents can be absorbed through the skin, for example, pesticides, herbicides, and estrumate. Others can be accidentally injected, such as vaccines, hormones, and antibiotics.

The possible adverse effects to pregnant women include: compromised maternal health, teratogenic effects (development of congenital malformations), abortion, and postpartum problems. [From Kristin Tondra]

Reproductive hormones
Although you may not be familiar with the trade names of reproductive hormones used in swine production, chances are they are used in your facility. Examples of brand names of reproductive hormones are: matrix, Prostamate®, Estrumate®, PG600, Lutalyse® and oxytocin. Though they are drugs made by different companies, they all contain hormones that act on the reproductive system and some may have harmful effects to
humans exposed to them. Most reproductive hormones used in swine are injected.

Prostaglandins such as Estrumate, Prostamate and Lutalyse are injected to induce farrowing in sows that are close to their farrowing date. Oxytocin may be injected to a sow while she is farrowing to help increase the strength of her uterine contractions to aid her in delivery. PG600 is used to induce heat in non-cycling gilts or sows after weaning.

If altrenogest, such as matrix, is used in your facility it will be applied as a liquid to sows’ feed. By administering this drug to a group of sows you are able to synchronize the group so they come into heat, breed and farrow during a short time frame.

Although contact with these chemicals – from an accidental needle stick or absorption through the skin – can be dangerous to any employee, it is a greater concern for female workers. The reproductive hormones may disrupt women’s menstrual cycles, cause reproductive issues or even disrupt the normal course of a pregnancy.

Prostaglandins such as Lutalyse, Prostamate and Estrumate can lead to the abortion of a sow’s pregnancy if there is an accidental exposure, while the drug matrix can actually prolong pregnancy if absorbed. If you look at the MSDS label for PG600 and Oxtocin you won’t see any specific warnings directed toward women, but since they are both reproductive hormones they should be used with caution. For these reasons, if a woman working in the facility does not feel comfortable handling these drugs, she is not obligated to perform this specific task.

Prevention & Control
? Always wear impermeable gloves when working with drugs to protect your skin from contact. If the drug accidentally comes into contact with your skin, immediately wash the affected area with soap and water.

MSDS
Your employer should always direct you to the MSDS sheet for the specific reproductive hormones used in your facility. This will inform you of any other risks or treatments associated with that drug. If you have questions about your safety after reading the MSDS for any compound used in your facility, you should consult with a physician to assess any specific health risks that you may have.

To ensure you understand the safety concerns related to compounds used in your facility and that you are confident in your ability to work with them, your employer will have you sign a Hazardous Chemical Disclosure Form. This form will be specific to the chemicals used in the facility. Women who do not feel comfortable working with hormones do not have to sign the form nor are they obligated to perform the specific task.

Some of the reproductive hormones containing drugs used in a hog facility are dangerous to all employees. If employees suffer from medical conditions listed on the MSDS, they may be exempted from performing tasks involving that drug. For example, the MSDS sheet for Lutalyse and Prostamate warns employees with asthma and bronchial and other respiratory problems to be cautious since direct exposure can cause bronchiospasms. These medical conditions are unique and different for each of the reproductive hormones so be sure to review the MSDS sheet for the specific drugs used in your facility.

In addition to the reproductive hormones, there may be other products used in facilities that could potentially have a medical impact. One such example is a group of drugs called corticosteroids (examples include Dexamethasone and Predef 2x). They are known to disrupt pregnancy in animals.
If a female worker does not feel comfortable handling the reproductive hormone due to its effects, she may be exempt from this task.

Reproductive Hormone Precautions:
Whenever you are working with the reproductive hormones used in your facility, wear impermeable gloves to protect your skin from accidental spills. If the chemical does come into contact with the skin it should be washed off immediately, and thoroughly, with soap and water. Make sure to read the MSDS labels on the type of reproductive drug used in the facility. All pork production facilities are required by law to provide a copy of the MSDS for every drug used.

Pregnancy is not the only health condition that requires an employee to abstain from using the drug. On the MSDS label you will find a list of other very severe health conditions that if an employee suffers from is grounds for their exemption from tasks where they will be in contact with the drug. Asthmatics and people with bronchial and other respiratory problems should exercise caution when working with Lutalyse, Estrumate or Prostamate as they can cause bronchiospasms.

After you have read the MSDS sign the Hazardous Chemical Disclosure Form for the reproductive hormone used in your facility to assure your employer you understand the dangers of working with this drug. Be sure all employees have read the MSDS label for the specific type of reproductive hormone used in your facility. After reading the label they must sign the Hazardous Chemical Disclosure Form for your specific brand of reproductive hormone as an agreement that they fully understand the hazards of working with it. If an employee has questions about their safety after reading the MSDS for any compound used in your facility, they should consult with a physician to assess any specific health risks they may have. If a female worker does not feel comfortable working with the chemical she does not have to due to the serious side effects contact with the drug caused. Also on the MSDS label there will be a series of severe health concerns that if employees suffer from, is also makes them exempt from performing tasks where they will be in direct contact with the drug. Some facilities may prohibit female employees from working with the previously discussed hormones to ensure there is never accidental contact with them.

When performing any task in which a reproductive hormone is being used, the people administering or working with the drug must wear impermeable gloves to protect themselves from absorption through the skin due to an accidental spill. If any employee does happen to spill the reproductive hormone on their skin they should immediately wash it the affected area with soap and water.

Key points
? Learn what drugs used in the pork facility can cause reproductive problems in employees if they come into contact with them.
? Understand what the hazards are for employees if they come into contact with these drugs.
? Familiarize yourself with the process of using the Hazardous Chemical Disclosure form concerning the reproductive hormone used in your facility.

Do:
? Learn what drugs used in pork production can cause reproductive problems through accidental contact before signing a Hazardous Chemical Disclosure Form.
? Read MSDS for drugs being handled.
? Understand that reproductive hormones contain drugs dangerous to all employees.

Don’t:
? Work with drugs that may cause you respiratory problems.
? Work with reproductive hormones without wearing impermeable gloves.
? Needlessly expose yourself or female employees to reproductive hormones.

Use correct injection techniques. To ensure protection against disease, vaccines must be administered properly. Follow these techniques:
• Ensure proper restraint of the animal prior to injection.
• Ensure proper syringe adjustment.
• Ensure proper needle placement onto the syringe.
• Avoid swelling and developing abscesses at the injection site.
o Use properly cleaned needles.
o Inject only into clean and dry areas.
o Prevent contamination. Don't use the same needle to inject pigs and remove product from multi-dose vials.
• Consult with your veterinarian about potential adverse drug and vaccine reactions.
• http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0902/

[Medications/additives].
Matrix comes in liquid form and is poured over sow’s feed. It is an oil-based product and is readily absorbed through the skin. Absorbing Matrix can prolong pregnancy. Women who may be pregnant, with known or suspected breast cancer, or undiagnosed vaginal bleeding should not handle Matrix.

If a female worker does not feel comfortable handling the reproductive hormone due to its effects, she may be exempt from this task. [what does “may be exempt” mean? Does it mean women of child-bearing years only? -- ms]

FAQs

Links

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