Globally, approximately 1 billion people have close contact with animals or animal products in their work. Examples of animal workers include workers on animal farms, veterinary workers, butchers and other meat processing workers, laboratory animal workers, hunters, field biologists, fisheries workers, and workers in zoos and aquaria. Many of these workers face occupational hazards including injury, zoonotic infections, dust and chemicals, and psychosocial stress. There is a need to better understand tha risk that these workers face, and to devise One Health strategies to promote the health of both people and animals in a healthy workplace.
Our research includes:
The Healthy Dairy Worker study: Microbiome adaptation to the dairy work environment
With support from the UW Pacific Northwest Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (PNASH), COHR is carrying out a longitudinal study of the gut and nasal microbiome of dairy workers in Washington state compared to community controls. The study explores the observation that people living and working on farms report lower rates of allergy and infections than people living in urban environments. As new workers adapt to the farm environment, does their microbiome change, and could that change have consequences for their health?
Compassion Fatigue in laboratory animal workers
COHR has been conducting surveys of workers in animal research laboratories to assess the degree of compassion fatigue in these workers.
Occupational risk of HPAI in Hunting dogs and their owners
COHR recently assessed the degree of contact between hunting dogs and their owners to determine the potential risk for avian influenza.