Veterinarians and staff devote themselves to the health and care of animals. Still, the veterinary profession presents specific health and safety risks for staff. Being aware of these risks in your veterinary practice, such as workplace hazards, dog bites, and zoonotic diseases, and implementing preventive strategies can protect staff and the animals they treat.
At Mahan Law – Veterinary Law Firm, we help veterinary practice owners minimize health and safety risks. Our team can help you develop comprehensive health and safety policies that comply with federal, state, and local regulations. Implementing safety procedures and training your staff will reduce the risk of workplace injuries, health risks, and legal liabilities.
Practical Work Safety Measures for Veterinary Practices
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires veterinary practices to take specific precautions to keep staff safe and prevent health hazards. For example, veterinary employers should prevent injuries and illnesses among veterinary workers by developing comprehensive workplace-specific written safety and health programs. Health and safety plans should focus on hazard identification, assessment, prevention, and control.
The CDC also requires employers to train staff about potential workplace hazards, including the occupational risks of working in a veterinary practice for pregnant and immunocompromised workers. Implementing a hierarchy of controls can help veterinary workers control hazards strategically. A veterinary practice should remove hazards when possible. For example, it should not admit an animal that isn’t properly and safely equipped.
In other cases, the veterinary practice should switch to a less risky hazard, such as using the safest chemical possible. Using engineering controls to prevent staff exposure to a hazard would include installing an effective scavenging system for anesthetic gas waste.
Veterinary owners or administrators should implement work practices and management policies, such as requiring rabies pre-exposure vaccinations for workers who may be at risk. Finally, veterinary practices should consider health and safety when designing and constructing their facilities, including how animals are handled, restrained, and housed there.
Preventing Zoonotic Diseases in Your Veterinary Practice
Minimizing zoonotic diseases in veterinary practices requires a multifaceted approach focused on staff education and disease prevention. Zoonotic diseases include rabies, which can be transmitted from infected animals to humans through scratches or bites, leptospirosis, Lyme disease, and salmonellosis, which ticks can transmit. Salmonellosis can occur through handling infected reptiles or contaminated food.
Veterinary practices should implement rigorous hygiene protocols, including frequent handwashing, sanitation of tools and equipment, and thorough cleaning of workspaces after each use. When you work with Mahan Law – Veterinary Law Firm, we can help you develop and implement procedures to lower the risk of zoonotic diseases.
Improving Staff Safety with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Veterinary practices must comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a federal agency that sets and enforces standards to ensure safe working conditions. OSHA requires using personal protective equipment (PPE) in certain occupations, including veterinary practices, to mitigate risks and protect employees from potential hazards.
Veterinary practice owners should train staff members to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) during animal examinations and other veterinary procedures. In a veterinary practice, staff members should have access to the following types of PPE: gloves (exam, surgical, and bite-resistant), surgical masks, gowns or lab coats, eye protection (goggles or face shield), closed-toed shoes, and occasionally, respiratory protection such as an N95 respirator. The type of PPE staff should use depends on the procedure and the risk of exposure to infectious diseases, bodily fluids, or animal bites.
PPE can significantly reduce the risk of disease transmission between animal patients and staff members. Additionally, implementing regular health screenings for staff is essential for identifying and addressing potential health risks at an early stage. Together, these measures create a safer environment for everyone involved, safeguarding staff members’ health and safety and protecting animal patients.
Protecting Staff Members from Animal Bites in Your Veterinary Clinic
Animal bites can happen in a busy veterinary practice, with many different animals coming in and out. However, veterinary practice owners can take steps to minimize the risk of injury to staff members, animal owners, and animals. Animal bites are a significant risk in veterinary clinics. Taking proactive measures to safeguard your staff is necessary to protect their safety and reduce liability risk for your practice.
Training staff to recognize signs of animal stress or aggression can help prevent potentially dangerous dogs from escalating and biting. Staff members should also be trained to handle potentially dangerous dogs properly. In some cases, muzzles and restraint devices may be necessary to reduce the likelihood of bites. Dogs with a known history of aggression may need to enter and leave the practice without coming into contact with other animals.
Creating a calm environment during examinations and procedures can help keep both animals and staff at ease. Even when staff members follow safety protocols, a bite may still occur. Veterinary practices should have a clear, written protocol for responding to bites, including immediate medical attention and reporting procedures. Finally, staff should wear bite-resistant gloves when an animal appears nervous, aggressive or has a bite history. By prioritizing education and safety procedures, veterinary practices can minimize the risk of animal-related injuries.
Contact an Experienced Health and Safety Attorney
Developing and implementing health and safety procedures for your veterinary practice is important to protect your staff and your practice. Mahan Law – Veterinary Law Firm works with veterinary practices nationwide, helping owners audit their health and safety protocols, make changes to improve their practices, and comply with local and federal laws and regulations. Don’t hesitate to contact Mahan Law – Veterinary Law Firm to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced veterinary attorney.