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Poultry House Safety

Poultry houses can be dusty, warm and full of moving equipment. Knowing the hazards and protecting your lungs, back and footing lets you do the work with fewer health costs.

What hazards are found in poultry houses?

Workers face dust, odors, heat, noise, slippery floors and moving equipment such as augers, feeders and fans. Cleanout work adds risks from lifting and heavy equipment.

Birds themselves can scratch, peck or startle. Exposure to droppings and dust can affect health over time.

A short walk through your own barn with a notebook will help you find where these hazards show up on your farm.

• Airborne dust and gases
• Heat and humidity
• Slippery floors
• Moving augers, feeders and fans
• Lifting and awkward postures
• Dust and gases affect health
• Moving equipment can catch clothing and limbs

How does dust affect health?

Dust in poultry houses may contain bedding, feed, feathers, droppings and microbes. Breathing it over time can irritate the lungs and airways. Some workers develop coughing, wheezing or breathing trouble.

Ask your doctor about respiratory health, and tell them that you work in poultry houses. AgriSafe Network and NIOSH provide guidance on respiratory protection. Do not rely on a casual mask. The right respirator and fit matter, and recommendations come from official sources.

If you have breathing problems, ask a health professional how to work safely. Keep an eye on breathing symptoms among workers and encourage anyone with ongoing cough or wheezing to see a health professional.

• Cough, wheeze or chest tightness after work deserves a medical visit
• Tell your doctor about poultry dust exposure

What about gases and ventilation?

Ammonia and other gases can build up in poorly ventilated buildings. Good ventilation helps both birds and people. Check your system regularly and fix problems promptly.

This site does not give exposure limits. Consult OSHA and NIOSH for official guidance, and ask your equipment dealer how to maintain ventilation.

Check fans, inlets and controllers on a regular schedule, and fix small problems before they grow.

• Check ventilation fans and inlets on a schedule
• Report odor or eye irritation changes to the manager
• Consult OSHA and NIOSH for official limits

How do you prevent equipment injuries?

Many injuries involve augers, conveyors and fans. Shut off and lock out power before reaching near moving parts, using the procedure described in the equipment manual. Keep guards in place and never remove them to save time.

Wear clothing that will not catch, tie back long hair and avoid jewelry that could snag. Train every worker on each machine before they use it.

If a machine is jammed, resist the urge to clear it by hand. Power must be off and locked out first, as the manual describes.

• Keep guards on all moving parts
• Lock out power before clearing jams or doing maintenance
• Do not wear loose clothing near machines
• Post clear instructions near equipment

How do you reduce slips, strains and heat stress?

Wet floors and litter cause falls. Keep walkways clear and use boots with good grip. When lifting or carrying, use carts and share heavy jobs.

Heat inside houses can be intense. Drink water, take breaks and know the signs of heat illness. Check the National Weather Service for heat advisories. If someone seems confused or very ill from heat, call 911.

• Water and breaks in hot weather
• Boots with good grip
• Carts for feed and crates

How should you prepare for emergencies?

Know where exits, extinguishers and phones are. Poultry houses can burn quickly, and a fire may spread fast. Ask your local fire department and NFPA resources about prevention and evacuation planning.

Have a written plan for power failure, fire and severe weather, and make sure workers know it. If you employ others, confirm which workplace safety rules apply with OSHA.

Include seasonal and contract workers in the plan, and make sure they have a way to reach someone in an emergency.

• Know two ways out of every house
• Keep extinguishers visible and serviced
• Post emergency numbers and the farm address

How do you handle cleanout and litter work safely?

Cleanout work stirs up large amounts of dust and often involves heavy machinery. Ask NIOSH or AgriSafe Network about respiratory protection for dusty tasks and follow their guidance rather than a general rule of thumb.

Plan for traffic around loaders and trucks, keep bystanders out and make sure the operator can see around the machine. Wear hearing protection when noise is high, and follow the equipment manual for safe operation.

• Respiratory protection chosen from official guidance
• Hearing protection when noise is high
• Spotters or clear signals around moving equipment

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.