Table 2 Working habits and the use of protective equipment at work or studies of cases having regular cattle contact due to work or studies (N = 53) in Finland, July–December 2019

Washing hands after treating calves (before continuing work)

54 (28/52)

31 (16/52)

15 (8/52)

Washing hands before eating

91 (48/53)

9 (5/53)

0 (0/53)

Washing hands when leaving the animal facilities

81 (43/53)

17 (9/53)

2 (1/53)

Washing shoes/boots after treating calves

79 (41/52)

17 (9/52)

4 (2/52)

Washing shoes/boots when leaving the animal facilities

96 (51/53)

2 (1/53)

2 (1/53)

Washing glasses when leaving the animal facilities

41 (11/27)

26 (7/27)

33 (9/27)

Touching the bovines with bare hands

36 (19/53)

43 (23/53)

21 (11/53)

Hands getting stained by feces while working

17 (9/53)

72 (38/53)

11 (6/53)

Use of personal cellphone in the animal facilities

38 (20/53)

45 (24/53)

17 (9/53)

Use of protective bag or similar on personal cellphone in the animal facilities

6 (3/51)

20 (10/51)

75 (38/51)

Smoking in the animal facilities

0 (0/52)

4 (2/52)

96 (50/52)

Use of snuff in the animal facilities

0 (0/51)

4 (2/51)

96 (49/51)

Chewing gum in the animal facilities

4 (2/51)

16 (8/51)

80 (41/51)

Eating or drinking in the animal facilities

0 (0/51)

20 (10/51)

80 (41/51)

Eating or drinking in a separate room

40 (21/53)

36 (19/53)

25 (13/53)

Protective clothing

98 (52/53)

2 (1/53)

0 (0/53)

Clean work shoes/boots from the farm

86 (44/51)

12 (6/51)

2 (1/51)

Headwear

87 (45/52)

8 (4/52)

6 (3/52)

Disposable gloves

45 (22/49)

37 (18/49)

18 (9/49)

Other protective gloves

54 (27/50)

34 (17/50)

12 (6/50)

Protective gloves when treating calves

56 (29/52)

23 (12/52)

21 (11/21)

Face mask/respirator

8 (4/50)

28 (14/50)

64 (32/50)

Face mask/respirator when treating calves

6 (3/52)

19 (10/52)

75 (39/52)