Veterinary Hazards: Staff Safety in Clinics and Practices
Veterinary Hazards: Staff Safety in Clinics and Practices
Veterinary practices are more high risk than other types of workplaces like offices and shops. Hazardous waste, prescription medicines, unpredictable animals, and exposure to pathogens are potentially daily occurrences for veterinary nurses and other staff working in the clinic.
As the owner, manager, infection control nurse, or health and safety officer of a veterinary practice, it’s your responsibility to identify hazards and potential hazards to take reasonable steps to keep people on the premises safe, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Here are some of the main hazards you should be aware of in a veterinary practice.
Most Common Veterinary Hazards
Knowing about the most common injuries and accidents that vets are exposed to will help you put together an effective infection control protocol and health and safety procedure that ensures all your staff are safe. The most common hazards in veterinary practices are:
- Animal-infliced injuries
- Exposure to zoonotic disease
- Exposure to chemicals
- Cuts and infections
- Trips, slips and falls
- Back injury from heavy lifting
In a study on occupational health hazards in veterinary practice, 823 respondents were surveyed, and it was found that 93% had experienced injuries from physical hazards in a veterinary clinic in the last five years. 58% of the injuries were caused by a needlestick. Other common physical injuries were back strain, limb strain, and injury with a scalpel.
How to reduce or avoid the most common hazards:
| Hazard | Preventative Measures |
|---|---|
| Animal-inflicted injuries | Bites and scratches aren’t easily avoidable. Train staff on animal restraining techniques and provide protective equipment like heavy-duty gloves where needed. |
| Exposure to zoonotic disease | PPE is essential to limit exposure to infectious materials. Provide ample supply of nitrile gloves, Type IIR face masks, and aprons. Adopt a strict clinic cleaning protocol. |
| Exposure to chemicals | The most common route of infection through chemical exposure is hand to mouth. Set out clear handwashing procedures, promote using nitrile gloves, and supply the clinic with multiple hand sanitiser stations. |
| Cuts and infections | Advise staff to wear gloves where necessary, supply sharps bins for use when disposing of hazardous waste, provide a veterinary first aid kit to deal with wounds. |
| Trips, slips and falls | Enforce clear and efficient cleaning protocols to keep walkways and exam rooms clean and clear. |
| Back injury from heavy lifting | Lifting animals that wriggle negates the assumption that proper lifting techniques can always be followed. Advise staff to ask for assistance when lifting a heavy animal. |
All of the equipment required to take these preventative steps is available here:
Starting at £17.94 £14.95
Starting at £7.67 £6.39
Take a look at our veterinary supplies page for other everyday essentials like wound sterilising, dressing, and bandages.
Hazardous Substances in Veterinary Clinics
Hazardous substances used and found in veterinary clinics are many. Veterinary staff are at risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals through direct contact or inhalation. Splashes can result in chemicals entering the eyes, nose, and mouth without even being noticed, so wearing a British Standard Type IIR face mask is important. Type IIR face masks are made with a splash-proof layer reducing the chance of infectious fluids entering the mouth.
Chemical hazards in a veterinary clinic include:
- Ammonia
- Carbon Monoxide
- Some cleaning chemicals
- Disinfectants
- Prescription drugs
- Hydrogen Sulphide
- Latex
- Micotil 300®
- Pesticides
- Phosphine gas
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) offers an extensive list of resources on the safe handling of all types of chemicals found in veterinary clinics.
Biological Hazards in Veterinary Practice
Minimising the risk of exposure to zoonoses (infections that pass from animals to humans) is an essential part of your veterinary health and safety procedure. A zoonotic disease can be transmitted via direct contact, indirect contact such as through fomites, ingestion, through droplets, or via aerosols. A zoonotic disease can also be transmitted through blood-feeding anthropods like ticks or mosquitoes.
Find an extensive list of biological veterinary safety protocols and guidance regarding zoonoses from the NIOSH.
Having a stringent vet clinic cleaning procedure and understanding which cleaning products should be used in a vet clinic are critical steps to limit the spread of zoonotic disease, especially those which are highly contagious and difficult to eliminate, like ringworm.
Hazardous Waste in a Veterinary Practice
Hazardous waste regulations veterinary practices must abide by requiring, identifying, separating, securely storing, and disposing of hazardous waste in accordance with UK laws to protect humans, animals, and the environment.
Much of the waste produced in a veterinary clinic each day is classed as hazardous waste, such as body fluids, materials used to clean body fluids up, used needles, and other items that have been contaminated by potentially infectious materials. Hazardous clinical waste such as this should be collected in a yellow biohazard bag and disposed of correctly.
Supply your staff with yellow biohazard bags to use in cleaning protocols, as well as sharps bins to put needles in so they don’t present a hazard inside waste bags.
Simplify Workplace First Aid
Interactive Online Guide & Downloadable Brochure
Simplify Workplace First Aid
Interactive Online Guide & Downloadable Brochure
Choose the format that works for you: check out our Workplace First Aid Interactive Online Guide or download our Workplace First Aid Brochure as an easy-to-save PDF. Both include a self-assessment, product details, pricing, and comprehensive training and support.
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