Welfare Science

Farm Animal Welfare and Worker Safety

Farm animal welfare and worker safety are interconnected, with animals in better welfare conditions creating safer working environments and reducing injury risk for farm workers.

Key Facts

Fear of farm workers by animals increases handling risk and worker injury rates
Animals accustomed to calm, positive handling are safer and less likely to injure workers
Worker injuries from livestock handling are among the most common agricultural injuries
Working conditions for farm workers affect animal welfare through stockperson wellbeing
Fair trade-type certification linking worker welfare and animal welfare is emerging

Welfare Considerations

Animal and worker welfare are mutually reinforcing rather than competing priorities. Animals in better welfare conditions with positive human relationships are safer to handle, while farm workers in good working conditions provide better animal care. Integrated welfare approaches that address both simultaneously deliver compound benefits.

What You Can Do

Support farm welfare certification schemes that include worker welfare standards
Advocate for integrated approaches to animal and worker welfare in agricultural policy
Engage with the evidence linking stockperson wellbeing to animal welfare outcomes