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Prevention of Animal-Acquired Infections
Prevention Saves Lives and Revenue
Animal-acquired infections have a far-reaching impact, which is why prevention and containment are critical. Sick animals not only affect food safety and workers, but they also cause a major disruption to the meat packing and poultry businesses. These animals die or are killed in the thousands to prevent the spread of infection to other animals or humans.
Disposable biohazard suits with a particle and liquid-tight barrier are essential for preventing cross-contamination between animals and for preventing worker exposure. When treating, examining, culling, or removing carcasses, there's a high potential for bodily fluid contact—direct or indirect exposure to urine, feces, mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth), blood, and soiled bedding can all lead to an animal-acquired infection.
Level 4 Defense Against Bacteria, Viruses, Blood-Borne Pathogens, Blood, & Bodily Fluids
The ViroGuard® and ViroGuard® 2 coverall lines and accessories are Level 4 garments, meaning they are impermeable to viral penetration. These biohazard suits were specifically designed for exposure to High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCIDs) such as Ebola, blood, and blood-borne pathogens including HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
ViroGuard® fabric passes both ASTM 1670 (blood) and ASTM 1671 (blood-borne pathogens), while ViroGuard® 2 fabric and seams pass both tests. Both product lines also pass chemical penetration testing for common agricultural chemicals (ASTM F903) and have a superior performance on Hydrostatic Pressure & Fluids Impact (AATCC 127).
ViroGuard® protective clothing offers full-body protection and is ideal PPE for use in poultry farms, beef farms, or as PPE for farm workers. Hooded styles are designed to fit respiratory protection equipment such as an air purifying respirator (APR), full-face respirator, and other types of respirators.
Mitigating Agricultural Respiratory Hazards
Farm respiratory protection and particulate protection are essential for agricultural workers' safety. Most locations on a farm put workers at risk. Dry conditions can push pesticides or chemicals into the air, and naturally occurring airborne contaminants often go unmonitored. Although materials such as hay, grain, and straw are organic and otherwise “healthy”, organic dust particles can contain infected animal droppings, bedding particles, bacteria, mold, and more.
In fact, agricultural dust is so dangerous that it can spread infectious diseases and cause respiratory diseases such as organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS / Farmer’s Fever) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This dust lands on clothing, machinery, food packaging, etc., and can be inhaled or absorbed into the body when a worker wipes their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Particle-Tight Protection for Organic and Inorganic Particulates
This is where disposable biohazard workwear proves critical in preventing infection and cross-contamination. A re-usable bio suit can transfer disease as an agricultural worker visits animals housed in separate areas. With proper disposal after each animal visitation, disposable bio suits ensure contaminants are contained.