occupational health and safety in veterinary hospitals- intro vet tech

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

why is OSHA important

1.Enforces federal laws

2.Helps ensure a safe workplace for American workers

3.Employers have responsibilities

--> safety program

--> safety training

employees have a right to

raise safety concerns without fear of reprisal

have a safety program or training

contact OSHA if concerns are not addressed

view medical reports

view OSHA form 300A (summary of work related injuries and illnesses)

4 hazards

infectious diseases

harmful chemicals

radiation

animal-induced

General Workplace Hazards Attire

dress appropriate

minimal jewelry

cover the entire foot

fire and evacuation

store flammable liquids properly

keep flammable materials 3 feet or more from an ignition source

keep at least two clear exits

locate fire extinguishers and know how to use them

noise levels in dog wards can reach as high as

110 decibels (dB)

Ethylene oxide

gas sterilization

the leaderships responsibilities

Provide safe environment with identified hazards

Correct hazards that can be eliminated

Control hazards that cannot be eliminated

Comply with safety/health laws

Establish and enforce safety procedures, including emergency procedures

Provide practice-specific safety training

General Workplace Hazards

Ergonomic injuries

Clutter

Lack of cleanliness

Ineffective organization

eat or drink in only designated areas

machinery and equipment

Improper use of machinery or equipment

Wearing loose clothing or hair around machinery with moving parts

Autoclave and steam burns

most common chemicals used include

cleaning and disinfecting agents

insecticides and pesticides

drugs and medications

sterilization agents

radiology processing fluids

hazardous drugs

- all medicines are chemicals

- cytotoxic drugs

• handling drugs

• biological safety cabinet

• handling patients body

• handling patients wastes

hazardous medical waste

Sharps

Medical devices

Animal blood or tissues

Laboratory cultures

Bandages/sponges

Primate material

Animal waste

sharps and medical waste

- physical trauma

- keep sharps sheathed until use

- do not attempt to recap needle unless necessary

Anesthesia concerns

•Proper scavenging system

•Proper anesthetic protocols

•Check anesthesia machine before each use

•Delaying extubation

•Pregnant personnel

radiology concerns

- Personal protective equipment

- Collimation

- Individual dosimeter badge

- Processing chemicals

precautions for dentistry operations

•Aerosolized microbes

•Personal protective equipment

Nonzoonotic Diseases

not serious concern to human health

highly contagious

examples

-->parvoviral enteritis in dogs

-->panleukemia in cats

personal protective equipment

protective measures

zoonotic diseases

risk of rabies virus exposure

other common pathogens

-other viruses

-bacteria (lyme disease)

-fungi (ringworm)

-internal parasites

-protozoa

-external parasites

bathing, dipping, and spraying areas

- personal protection equipment

- eye-level storage

- ventilation

- eyewash station

noise

noise levels in dog wards can reach as high as 110 decibels (dB)

ear protection

-needs to be rated to filter the noise by at least 20 (dB)

animal related hazards

- training and practice with animal restraint

- capture restraining equipment

- chemical restraint

Glutaraldehyde

cold sterilization

formalin

Used for tissue preservation

Human carcinogen

chemical spill cleanup

1. keep people and pets away

2. increase ventilation

3. put on protective gloves, apron, and protective eyewear if indicated

4. cover spills with absorbent materials

5. sweep saturated absorbent materials into dustpan and deposit into plastic trash bag.

6. seal trash bad and dispose of it

7. wash contaminated area thoroughly, and allow area to air dry

8. remove protective equipment and dispose of single use items

9. wash hands thoroughly and change contaminated clothing

10. replace used materials in spill kit