Don’t Get Stuck!
Strategies to prevent needlesticks are an important part of your livestock handling procedures. Although most needlestick injuries are minor, they can be life-threatening. About 80% of agricultural workers report having experienced a needlestick, making this an unfortunately common experience.
Use the resources in the packet below to help you:
- Develop injection procedures that reduce the risk of needlesticks
- Train employees on best practices when giving injections
- Design better livestock handling procedures to reduce the risk of injury
- Implement a sharps disposal plan
Materials in this packet were reviewed and assembled by Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health in June 2022. Thank you to The Center for Food Security & Public Health at Iowa State University, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pork Information Gateway, Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH), and Virginia Tech for contributing.
Links to materials in packet
Animal Behavior and Restraint: Cattle. Handout The Center for Food Security & Public Health, Iowa State University
Injectable Pharmaceutical Safety Checklist Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH)
Preventing Worker Deaths and Injuries When Handling Micotil 300®. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Needlesticks factsheet Pork Information Gateway
Hormone Use in Swine Production and Worker Safety Pork Information Gateway
Needlestick prevention fact sheets Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH)
Cattle Restraint SOPs Virginia Tech
Swine Injection SOPs Virginia Tech
Related Safety Watch Article:
Even a small needle can cause big problems, Brandi Janssen, August 2022
Videos and Online Training Resources
Hazards Associated with Livestock Handling -Search for “Livestock” in the search bar
Preventing needlestick injuries in pork production:
Preventing Needlestick Injuries – Proper Use on Swine and Hog Farms
Previniendo lesiones por piquetes de agujas – El uso apropiado en granjas porcinas (Spanish version)
Preventing needlestick injuries in dairy production:
Preventing Needlestick Injuries – Proper Use on Dairy Farms
Previniendo lesiones por piquetes de agujas – El uso apropiado en lecherías (Spanish version)
Websites
Prevention of Needlestick Injuries in Livestock Production (South Dakota State University)
Practice needle know-how (National Hog Farmer)
Proper Animal Handling & Restraint (Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island)
Research
PapersNeedlestick Injuries in Agriculture Workers and Prevention Programs. Buswell, M. L., Hourigan, M., Nault, A. J., & Bender, J. B. (2016). Journal of agromedicine, 21(1), 82-90.
Unintentional Needlestick Injuries in Livestock Production: A Case Series and Review. Jennissen, C., Wallace, J., Donham, K., Rendell, D., & Brumby, S. (2010). Journal of agromedicine, 16(1), 58-71.