Occupational Health & Safety for Veterinary Personnel Flashcards
What 2 landmarks in US laws passed in 1970 improved the health and safety of workers?
- Environmental Protection Act (EPA) - clean air act; reduction of environmental pollution in the atmosphere so we can live and work in a safe environment
- Occupation Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of the Department of Labor - prioritizes worker’s safety over business profitability
What are 7 common standards/requirements of OSHA at workplaces?
- health and safety of the worker is priority
- each person should be trained how to perform a particular job before they are required to do it
- workers should be protected from infectious, chemical, and physical hazards
- PPE should be provided for workers’ heads, ears, eyes, faces, noses, skin, body, hands, and feet
- equipment and devices should fit and be comfortable to the worker
- buildings and their internal structures should be kept clean, orderly, and sanitary, be free from sharp/protruding objects, chemical leaks, spills, snow, and ice
- color codes, posters, labels, or signs should be used to warn employees of potential hazards
How many entries and exits should be available in the workplace?
safe entry and at least 2 exit routes to immediately evacuate during emergencies
What is the point of OSHA?
ensures that there is no hazard at the workplace from physical and engineering design of equipment, devices, buildings, and surfaces
How fast are veterinary jobs growing in the US?
17% (much faster than other occupations)
Where do most veterinarians work? What are 2 important roles/services done?
private clinics and hospitals
- provide veterinary care for a variety of animal species in medical, surgical, preventative health, or animal care service settings
- protect public health and food safety
What are the 6 types of occupational hazards encountered by vets in the workplace?
- BIOLOGICAL - blood-borne disease, contagious pathogens, vector-borne disease, airborne disease
- CHEMICAL - anesthesia, euthanasia, corrosive detergents, irritant disinfectants, insecticides, pesticides, explosives, inflammables
- RADIATION - X-ray, gamma-ray, radioactivity, lasers, UV
- PHYSICAL - injuries from animals, slips, trips, falls, sharp and needle sticks, heat, vibration, noise, electrical
- ERGONOMICS (bad design of devices and equipment) - improperly adjusted workstations, awkward posture, prolonged standing, lifting, bending
- PSYCHOLOGICAL - stress, shift work, violence
How does poor ergonomics affect workers?
musculoskeletal disorders
How can biological hazards injure vets? What are 5 classes of these hazards?
specimens may potentially contain infectious hazards and expose vets to pathogens
- SECRETIONS, EXCRETIONS, BODY FLUIDS - blood, urine, feces, semen, vaginal secretion, CSF, synovial, pleural, peritoneal, and amniotic fluids, and saliva
- ORGANISMS - insects/arthropods, wildlife, and sick pets, livestock, and wildlikfe
- FOODS - meat, milk, egg, fisg
- CELLS - infected cell cultures, culture pathogens
- BIOPSIES & DEAD BODIES - organs, cadavers
What are the 10 most important documented infectious hazards in veterinary personnel in the US? Where does exposure typically happen?
- salmonellosis
- cryptosporidosis
- plague (Y. pestis)
- sporotrichosis
- MRSA
- psittacosis (Chlamydia)
- dermatophytosis
- leptospirosis
- bartonellosis
- Q fever
clinics, zoos, wildlife research, shelters, slaughterhouses, labs, etc.
Documented infectious hazards in veterinary personnel in Canada:
What biological hazards are most commonly encountered in poultry?
- salmonellosis*
- influenza A*
- psittacosis
- E. coli
- MRSA Staph. aureus
What biological hazards are most commonly encountered in swine?
- erysipelothrix*
- MRSA Staph. aureus*
- Strep. suis*
- influenza A*
- salmonellosis
- E. coli
- hepatitis E
- brucella
- ringworm
- leptospira
- anthrax
- raboes
What biological hazards are most commonly encountered in sheep and goats?
- tularemia*
- Q fever*
- anthrax
- brucella
- E. coli
- salmonellosis
- ringworm
What biological hazards are most commonly encountered in beef cattle?
- anthrax*
- leptospira*
- rabies*
- brucella
- salmonellosis
- ringworm
- E. coli
- MRSA Staph. aureus
- Q fever
- pseudopox
What biological hazards are most commonly encountered in dairy cattle?
- brucella*
- Q fever*
- pseudopox*
- ringworm*
- anthrax
- E. coli
- salmonellosis
- rabies
- leptospira
- MRSA Staph. aureus
What biological hazards are most commonly encountered in pets?
- Bartonella (bite/scratch)*
- Pasteurella (bite/scratch)*
- Rabies (bite)*
- Bordetella bronchiseptica*
- Salmonella
- Brucella
- Yersinia enterocolitica
- Campylobacter
- Coxiella burnetii
- Leptospira
- Staph/ intermedius
- MRSA Staph. aureus
What biological hazards are most commonly encountered in pet reptiles?
- Salmonella
- E. coli
- Aeromoniasis
- Campylobacter
- Mycobacterium
What are a majority of the biological hazards from wildlife? What vector of disease is of particular interest?
viruses
bats - rabies, nipah, hendra —> brain eating viruses
Who are at higher risk to biological hazards?
- veterinarians
- abattoir workers
- wildlife researchers
- farmers
- hunters
(occupational risk)
What 2 kinds of chemical hazards are vets commonly exposed to?
- anesthesia/euthanasia - careful handling, securely locked to avoid theft
- hazardous chemicals designated by pictograms
What 4 disinfectants are commonly used in veterinary medicince and can act as chemical hazards?
- chlorine - respiratory irritation and breathing difficulties
- hydrogen peroxide - eye, nose, and respiratory irritation
- ozone - eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, lung irritation, oxygen deficiency
- peracetic acid/perozyacetic acid (common in poultry settings and meat packing plants) - respiratory irritation
What 3 types of detergents are commonly used in veterinary medicine and can act as chemical hazards?
- ACID DETERGENTS - hydrochloric, sulfuric, phosphoric, and acetic acids - corrossive to mucus membranes
- ALKALINE DETERGENTS - caustic soda and potash, phosphates, silicates, carbonates - corrossive to mucus membranes
- QUATERNARY AMMONIA DETERGENTS
What 3 chemical hazards do vets commonly come into contact with during disease outbreak control?
- detergents
- disinfectants
- pesticides (control ticks and flies and can lead to dermatitis and respiratory disease)
Who determines the permissible occupational exposure limits for substances?
OSHA by the Department of Labor
What 5 physical hazards do vets commonly encounter?
- scratches
- bites
- kicking
- fights
- swallowing
- vets are at higher risk - 2/3 of vets in the US are affected by occupational hazards, particularly needly injuries
What 5 types of radiation hazards are commonly encountered by vets? What can uncontrolled exposure lead to?
- X-ray
- gamma-ray
- radioactivity
- laser
- UV
leukemia, aplastic anemia, pancytopenia
How can radiation hazards be avoided?
wearing a lead apron
What are 4 ergonomic hazards most commonly caused by? What are its possible consequences?
- posture
- design issues with devices
- lifting heavy objects
- unnecessary motions or stretching
musculoskeletal injuries or paralysis
What hazards are most commonly encountered in the clinic?
- animal attacks
- bloodborne pathogens
- airborne pathogens
- ergonomics
- slips, trips, falls
- sharps (needle sticks)
What hazards are most commonly encountered in surgical suites?
- bloodborne pathogens from blood transfusion (Anaplasma, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Leishmania)
- anesthesia gases
- irradiation by lasers
- ergonomics and musculoskeletal injuries
What hazard is most commonly encountered by workers in diagnostic/research laboratories?
infectious pathogens
What are the 3 levels of infectious agents that can injure workers in laboratories? What are some examples?
- BSL-2 (zoonotic) - hepatitis, Enterobacteriacaea
- BSL-3 (bioterrorism) - HIV, H1N1, Q fever, plague, TB, SARS, rabies, West Nile virus
- BSL-4 (catastrophically dangerous viruses) - Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Ebola, Lassa, Marburg, smallpox
What are the 7 methods to protect vets from hazards in the workplace?
- eliminate
- substitute
- engineering - proper design of plant, ventilation, dust isolation and PPE devices
- administrative action - limit exposure by rotation or decreased work hours
- PPE - sanitation, protect exposed body parts
- laws and medical methods - OSHA, EPA, periodic examination, surveillance, and health education
- training and hazard communication
How can infectious agents be eliminated, substituted, engineered, administrated/practice level controlled, and use PPE to protect vets in the workplace?
- vaccinate animals against zoonosis
- work with species with less zoonotic potential
- use nonporous surfaces, avoid needle sticks, and use proper containers
- hand washing, vaccinate vets against zoonosis, proper restraining to reduce bite
- masks, respirators, gloves, gowns, coveralls
How can vets be protected from zoonosis by vaccines?
vaccinate both vets (+ those in contact with animals) and animals against zoonotic pathogens to eliminate/prevent occupational risk
How can anesthetics be substituted, engineered, administrated/practice level controlled, and use PPE to protect vets in the workplace?
- use less toxic chemicals
- have adequate scavenging system in surgical rooms
- follow manufacturer guidelines
- gloves, respirator
How can disinfectants/pesticides be substituted, engineered, administrated/practice level controlled, and use PPE to protect vets in the workplace?
- use less toxic chemicals
- improve ventilation
- restrict handling to trained personnel
- gloves, respirator
How can bites/crush injuries be substituted, engineered, administrated/practice level controlled, and use PPE to protect vets in the workplace?
- use/handle less dangerous animals
- use restraining methods, like muzzles, corrals, twitches, and chemicals (ketamine, xylazine)
- allow only trained personnel on animal restraint to handle dangerous animals, bite prevention
- impermeable gloves
What can vets be trained in to prevent physical hazards with dangerous patients?
animal behavior, handling, and physical/chemical restraining methods
- muzzels for dogs and cats
- twitching for horses
- casting
- sedatives and tranquilizers: carfentanil, xylazine, ketamine
What is the OSHA policy on capping needles?
avoid recaping using two hands to avoid injury
How can vets be protected from ergonomic hazards with heavy patients?
avoid lifting heavy objects/patients alone - use proper lifting assist devices and techniques
What is PPE? What 8 body parts are typically protected?
personal defense against biological, chemical, and physical hazards
- head*
- ears (noise)*
- eyes*
- face*
- nose*
- skin/body
- hand
- feet
(multiple body parts above the neck need special attention)
How are the 8 important body parts covered by PPE?
- head - surgical cap
- ear - earmuffs, earplugs, canal caps
- eyes - goggles, filtered lenses
- face - face shields
- nose - N-95 masks, respirators
- skin - lab coat, protective clothes (coveralls)
- hands - gloves
- feet - shoes, nonslip soles, safety shoes, boots, shoe covers
(combination of multiple PPE offers more protection)
In what 2 ways should workers be trained to avoid injuries?
- training on how to use devices, equipment, and chemicals
- training on how to read chemical labels and other forms of warning (pictograms that represent hazards)
