Workplace Health and Safety: The Most Dangerous Animals to Work With
Guest Post
Most of us are familiar with the more dangerous animals in the wild. Mosquitoes are still the most deadly, wiping out millions each year through spread of diseases, and crocodiles, lions, hippos and venomous beasts always make the top ten. But what about the animals that we keep as livestock? Farming was recently shown to be the most dangerous job on land in Britain, and that partly comes down to the creatures we rear. You might be surprised about some of the most dangerous.
Donkeys
Donkeys can be a serious hazard on farms. Traditionally they were used to protect other livestock against wild dogs and wolves, due to their non-nonsense approach to self defence and vicious, two-hoofed kick. In some farms in the US they still act as sentries against coyotes. This instinct towards protection can make them dangerous to humans too, especially if you’re walking with a dog. Unlike a horse, they don’t give much sign of displeasure before they strike. In fact it’s popularly believed that donkeys kill more people than plane crashes every year.
Cattle
It’s perhaps less of a surprise to know that cattle are very dangerous to people. There have been several cases of walkers being killed in the UK over the last few years. The problem isn’t just with bulls, but also with herds of stampeding cows. They can get angry when they’re protecting young, or frightened into action by dogs. In the US cattle are even more dangerous, due to their genetically-augmented bulk, and the fact that some are bred to be vicious for entertainment at rodeo events.
Goats
Goats, although may appear harmless, can actually become quite aggressive when they feel threatened. Although they’re quite small animals, a dangerous combination of a sharp mind and hard head makes them a threat. They’re always on the look-out for new ways of getting food, and if they’ve discovered that they can overpower of frighten people by butting them, they will become violent.
Ostriches
More exotic animals can bring with them new dangers. The ostrich is well-known in farming circles as a mean bird to deal with. They’re very fast, and a kick from their sharp toes can disembowel a person. Add to that the fact that they can learn to peck at peoples’ eyes when angry and you have a serious animal to deal with. In 1918, President Theodore Roosevelt published a great survival tip. If you’re surrounded by angry ostriches, lie on the ground. They can’t kick you, and they’re not heavy enough to do you any harm by standing on you. Eventually they give up.
This post was provided by Jess Forrester – a health and safety training officer from the UK.
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