Perspectives of dairy employees at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of health risks and educational needs
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-05-01
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| Series: | JDS Communications |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666910223000194 |
| _version_ | 1797788426728112128 |
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| author | F.C. Ferreira M. Rovai M. Chahine M. de Haro Marti J. Wenz J. Dalton N. Silva-del-Río |
| author_facet | F.C. Ferreira M. Rovai M. Chahine M. de Haro Marti J. Wenz J. Dalton N. Silva-del-Río |
| author_sort | F.C. Ferreira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:36:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ef983b8cd1814ccc8629fbe9e930274c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-9102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:36:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JDS Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-ef983b8cd1814ccc8629fbe9e930274c2023-07-04T05:11:16ZengElsevierJDS Communications2666-91022023-05-0143186190Perspectives of dairy employees at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of health risks and educational needsF.C. Ferreira0M. Rovai1M. Chahine2M. de Haro Marti3J. Wenz4J. Dalton5N. Silva-del-Río6Veterinary Teaching and Research Center, University of California, Davis, Tulare 93274; Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616; Corresponding authorDepartment of Dairy and Food Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings 57007Twin Falls Research and Extension Center, University of Idaho, Twin Falls 83301University of Idaho Extension, Gooding County, Gooding 83330Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman 99164Twin Falls Research and Extension Center, University of Idaho, Twin Falls 83301; Caldwell Research and Extension Center, University of Idaho, Caldwell 83605Veterinary Teaching and Research Center, University of California, Davis, Tulare 93274; Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616Our 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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666910223000194 |
| spellingShingle | F.C. Ferreira M. Rovai M. Chahine M. de Haro Marti J. Wenz J. Dalton N. Silva-del-Río Perspectives of dairy employees at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of health risks and educational needs JDS Communications |
| title | Perspectives of dairy employees at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of health risks and educational needs |
| title_full | Perspectives of dairy employees at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of health risks and educational needs |
| title_fullStr | Perspectives of dairy employees at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of health risks and educational needs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perspectives of dairy employees at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of health risks and educational needs |
| title_short | Perspectives of dairy employees at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of health risks and educational needs |
| title_sort | perspectives of dairy employees at the beginning of the covid 19 pandemic a survey of health risks and educational needs |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666910223000194 |
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