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Executive
A toolbox talk on poultry dust
Preventing occupational respiratory disease in poultry farm workers
Why talk about poultry dust?
What is poultry dust?
Bird droppings
Feathers and dander (dead skin)
Bacteria / endotoxin
Softwood shavings/shreds
Straw
Dust and storage mites
Fungi (moulds)
* Dust and storage mites’ photograph is reproduced with permission of the Central Science Laboratory (Dr Bhushy Thind)
Which activities generate poultry dust?
Laying down bedding
Populating houses
•
Spreading straw / wood shavings by
hand
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Placing out trays of day-old chicks into
growing sheds
•
Mechanical chopping and spreading of
straw and wood shavings
•
Transferring point of lay hens from
wheeled modules into cages / open barns
Which activities generate
poultry dust?
Routine cleaning
•
•
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Using an air blower to clean down
battery cages, walls, floors and
machinery
Using a brush to sweep away debris
Using a brush to clean cages
Catching (depopulation)
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Herding birds into a penned area
Walking through birds to check for bird
welfare
Catching birds
Vaccinating birds
Loading birds into modules
Which activities generate
poultry dust?
Litter removal
•
•
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Using a mechanical bucket to scoop,
scrape, pile up and tip litter
Using a mechanical rotary brush to
sweep up the floor
Using a blower to remove litter from
around roof supports / extensions
Final clean
•
•
Using compressed air to clean extraction
fan and casings
Using compressed air to blow down
poultry material at high level
What happens if you breath it in?
What is occupational respiratory disease
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Our respiratory or breathing system includes the
mouth, nose, breathing tubes and lungs
Occupational respiratory diseases are caused by
breathing things in at work eg poultry dust
Poultry workers often have breathing problems at
work such as coughing, bringing up phlegm,
shortness of breath, wheezing and chest
tightness
Working with poultry dust commonly causes
symptoms affecting the eyes (itching, watering or
redness), nose (sneezing, itching, runny or
blocked nose) or throat discomfort
Flu-like symptoms with headache, fever and
muscle aches may also occur
The majority of symptoms at work will not be
harmful and not related to occupational asthma
Report work-related symptoms as soon as possible
to your employer and if you are concerned consult
your doctor
Asthma – imagine how it must feel …
Your breathing may be permanently damaged
Occupational asthma is a condition that causes
the airways of the lung to tighten and narrow making breathing difficult and noisy (wheezing)
Preventing occupational
respiratory disease
Preventing occupational respiratory disease in poultry farm workers
Avoid respiratory disease
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Follow good working practices set up by your employer
Report symptoms of respiratory ill-health to your employer
If you are concerned you have developed occupational breathing problems – consult your GP and/or
your works doctor
Protect your lungs and breathing tubes
•
•
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Wear the correct Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) for the job (eg disposable dust masks; airfed hoods, visors, helmets etc)
If you use RPE which relies on a good face seal to be effective (eg disposable dust masks, half and
full-face masks) then your respirator must be face-fit tested
Facial hair affects the performance of close fitting respirators so faces should be clean shaven for
optimum performance
Check your RPE
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Ensure you know how to correctly wear your RPE
Check the fit of your RPE before use. Follow the manufacturer’s fitting instructions on how to correctly
put on the RPE and check the fit
Don’t remove your RPE during the work activity. Wear the RPE all the time when working in a dusty
area, don’t lift the RPE away from your face to talk or to take a deep breath while doing the job, you will
lose the protection
Protect your lungs and breathing tubes
What is RPE?
Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is designed to protect the wearer against breathing in a hazardous
substance (eg poultry dust) in the workplace air. Typical examples suitable for poultry work are shown
below:
Nuisance dust mask
Filtering facepiece (dust mask)
Powered filtering hood
Powered filtering visor
Dust masks
1.
A fit test should be carried out
as part of the initial selection
of your dust mask
2.
You are better protected if
you are clean shaven
3.
Put on your dust mask
correctly, ensure it covers
your nose and mouth
4.
Check the fit of your dust
mask before starting the job
5.
Keep your dust mask on
during the work activity
6.
Change your dust mask
regularly
1
2
3
4
5
6
Check your dust mask is on properly
Step 1
Step 2
Checked
Step 3
Step 4
Which mask would you prefer?
AVOID – PROTECT - CHECK
Your breathing may be permanently damaged
Checked
Remember - the majority of symptoms at work will not be harmful and not related to occupational asthma.
Report work-related symptoms as soon as possible to your employer and if you are concerned consult
your doctor.
Next steps
What can we do to prevent occupational respiratory disease
from poultry dust?
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