Working in the Vat: Occupational Hazards in the Swine Rearing Industry
Friday, April 3   1-2:30 pm
Room 1690, SPH1

Over the past three decades, swine rearing has transformed from an activity involving up to a hundred pigs on a family farm to thousands now raised in “confined animal feeding operations” (CAFOs). Swine rearing has therefore become an industry that employs hundreds of thousands of workers nationwide. CAFO buildings have been designed with primary considerations given to pigs’ health and rapid growth while minimizing energy costs.

Given the predominate use of open-slatted flooring and under-floor waste pits, the worker is literally “working in the vat” with no engineering controls to minimize the dust and gases they breath throughout their workshift. This seminar will focus on these working conditions while presenting research conducted to understand airborne contaminant levels and the potential use of respirators to protect swine worker health.

Patrick O’Shaughnessy, PhD, CIH, is the director of the Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety at the University of Iowa.  This event is a part of the occupational Health Speaker Series (EHS 668 / IOE 837). The seminar will be followed by an informal discussion until 2:30 p.m.