Consider the following things when developing COVID-19 protocols meant to help protect family members and employees who work on your farm or ranch:

1. Work permits. Stay aware of state or federal mandates regarding providing proof of being an essential worker. Determine whether you will need to prepare an “Essential Food and Agricultural Employee Work Permit” or “Travel Permit” for your employees to keep on them at all times.

Related: Complete coronavirus coverage
 

2. Hygiene. Outline the basic hygiene practices that should be practiced at work, home and before travelling between work and home.

Remind employees of hand-washing protocols using soap and water, and make sure soap and water is available. This may be something as simple as a watercooler filled up daily and having a bottle of soap and paper towels accessible, if no running water is available or no hand-sanitizer is available.

3. Standard operating procedures. Decide how you will handle tasks that require people to work close together. These may include milking, caring for calves and cows in maternity or veterinary pens and handling cattle in loading and working chutes.

If you are a grain farmer, how will you handle seed, fertilizer or chemical deliveries? Many businesses are putting in protocols, and it is recommended to call ahead to be aware of how they will handle the day-to-day business in the months ahead.

4. Farm access. Designate a single entry and exit point to the farm. Do not allow outside visitors for the time being. Utilize a sign-in log for people coming and going from the farm or use a security camera to record the traffic.

5. Deliveries. Consider posting signage with clear directions for each type of delivery you may be receiving. The sign should include who to call, their phone number, where to place packages or other appropriate information. If possible, encourage staggered delivery times.

6. Carpooling. Consider limiting family member or employee carpooling to essential use. Determine what to do if employees also carpool with other individuals who do not work on your farm or ranch, or with non-family members.

7. Cleaning. Disinfect common areas regularly and stagger breaks and arrival times, if possible, to help with social distancing. Remind workers to disinfect common areas after each break: counters, tables, microwave handles, microwave control panels, coffee pots, beverage dispensers, refrigerator door handles, cupboard door handles, etc.

 Keep disinfectant, clean cloths and extra garbage bags available at all times. Additionally, you will want to have someone designated to disinfect other common areas twice-daily, including time clocks, bathrooms, two-way radios, computer keyboards and common in-out doors using products approved by EPA for use against COVID-19. 

It will be important to lead by example if you want these done adequately and for everyone to feel all members of the farm or ranch are truly part of the team effort.

8. Supplies. Do not share used materials (e.g. towels, kitchen utensils, pens), and wash and dry them between uses.

9. PPEs. Workers should wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment for the job they are performing including. These would be gloves, footwear, safety glasses or goggles, aprons, and masks. Replace them as necessary.

10. Laundry. Launder all clothing or uniforms daily. Encourage workers not to enter their homes with potentially contaminated work clothing. They should both wash-up or shower and wear clean clothing home or remove clothing before entering the home and place the clothing in a bag to be laundered, then wash-up or shower immediately. This will help minimize bringing the virus home to family members.

When handling clothing and towels, wear gloves, do not shake the clothes so it minimizes particle dispersion and disinfect clothing hampers.

11. Cross training. Cross train employees ahead of time so they have an understanding of other jobs on the farm if the need arises for them to help in other areas on the farm.

12. Labor shortage. Develop a contingency plan for labor if you are short staffed. Identify people who may be able to help you temporarily during this time.

13. Supply disruptions. Plan ahead for supply chain disruptions for products such as cleaners, disinfectants or livestock medications.

Contact suppliers of fertilizer, feed, chemical, parts and other products to see if there is additional wait times. Have critical parts on hand and determine what each service provider is implementing with their staff that may impact the on-farm service you receive.

Determine which few employees will be directly interacting with anyone that comes to do equipment maintenance in order to limit the potential exposure to outside individuals that could be carrying the virus. Preparation prior to the visit will save time for all parties involved.

14. Family issues. Be aware of employees with families experiencing childcare closures. Consider that many families may have situations where one parent is deemed “essential” and the other is working remotely, and there is stress around the essential worker bringing home the virus.

Post local resources for mental health hotlines, telemedicine and as many other community service programs as possible so everyone can remain connected within the community and get their needs met.

Consider adjusted store hours as employees need to access personal supplies.

15. Communication. Provide employees with a clear timeline of these increased biosecurity tasks as much as possible. No, we do not know exactly how long this situation will last, but give assurance to employees that you will meet at a certain interval to reevaluate the practices and determine next steps or changes. After all, nothing is more tiring on people than adding more cleaning tasks to their daily duties

16. Leadership. Lead by example. You will be amazed how well people can perform, either as employees or leaders, when you take the time to enable them with desired expectations for the job and then empower them to accomplish it.

Erickson is a South Dakota State University Extension dairy field specialist.