Health and Safety Lecture Review

Flashcards covering key concepts, vocabulary, and safety protocols from the Health and Safety lecture notes, suitable for exam preparation.

What does CVTEA stand for?

Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities

What does OSHA stand for?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration

What is the primary purpose of a safety program in the workplace?

To reduce or eliminate the possibility of injuries or illness to employees.

Which organization is a division of the AVMA and holds standards on safety for veterinary technician programs?

CVTEA (Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities)

What are the federal laws enforced by OSHA designed to ensure?

A safe workplace for American workers.

What safety standards does the CVTEA review during an accreditation process?

Animal handling, Occupational Safety and Health, Personal Safety, Emergency Preparedness, and Zoonoses.

Why is understanding proper restraint important in animal handling according to CVTEA guidelines?

To prevent personal injury during animal handling procedures and ensure the safety of animals.

What aspects of personal safety does the CVTEA statement cover?

Protection from personal harm due to inadequate security, aggressive animal protocol, and student injury/safety protocol.

What does OSHA require employers to provide regarding employee safety?

A safety program; education in inherent risks; appropriate safety equipment; training in the use of equipment; and trainings upon hiring, upon introduction of a new hazardous item, and then annually.

What is an employee's right if they have a serious safety complaint that their employer does not address?

They have the right to contact OSHA.

Under OSHA, what records are employees entitled to see?

Records taken by the hospital, such as radiation records.

If a hospital employs more than 10 people, what summary must be posted on the bulletin board?

A summary of work-related injuries.

What is an employee's responsibility regarding workplace safety regulations?

To know, understand, and follow all safety regulations.

What are some specific areas of oversight required by OSHA and CVTEA?

Compressed gas cylinder placement and storage; eye wash and safety shower availability; radiation equipment, logs, and dosimetry badges; sharps containers; secondary labeling; and use of personal protective equipment.

Why is it important to dress appropriately, including correct footwear and minimal jewelry, in the workplace?

To prevent general hazards and potential injuries.

Where should heavy materials be placed to minimize back injury?

On bottom shelves.

Why should food not be stored with 'drugs' or consumed in non-designated areas in the workplace?

To prevent the ingestion of pathogens or other chemicals.

What is a key fire safety precaution for flammable materials?

Store them at least 3 feet away from an ignition source such as water heaters, furnaces, or stoves.

What types of chemicals are most commonly used and potentially hazardous in a veterinary practice?

Cleaning supplies, insecticides/pesticides, drugs/medications (including chemotherapy drugs), anesthetic gases, sterilization agents, and radiology processing fluids.

What document should be available for all hazardous products used in a practice?

An SDS sheet (Safety Data Sheet).

When mixing or diluting chemicals, what steps should be followed to prevent splashing?

Always start with the water and add the chemical second.

How should mercury spills be cleaned up?

They require a special clean-up kit.

Which specific chemical is primarily used for tissue preservation?

Formalin.

What is glutaraldehyde often referred to and used for?

Cold sterilization, used for sterilization of hard instruments without an autoclave.

What type of label is required if a substance is stored in a secondary bottle (not its original)?

A GHS label (Global Harmonized System).

Why should earplugs be used in dog wards?

Dog wards can reach up to about 110 dB, which is enough to cause hearing damage.

What type of animal bite carries high rates of infection and requires prompt medical attention and often antibiotics?

Cat bites.

Which zoonotic diseases can be caused by parasites like roundworms and hookworms?

Ocular larval migrans (roundworms) and cutaneous larval migrans (hookworms).

What protective gear should be worn during dentistry procedures, especially with high-speed scalers and polishers?

A mask with a face shield.

What personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when taking radiographs?

Lead gloves, apron, thyroid shield, and a dosimeter.

What problems can waste anesthetic gases and prolonged exposure cause?

Correlations to birth defects, abortion, and organ damage.

How should sharps (needles, scalpel blades) be handled to prevent injury?

Keep them capped, do not remove the needle from the syringe, use a one-handed technique to recap, and do not overfill the sharps container.

What special precautions are needed when handling chemotherapy drugs?

Wear protective gear (typically disposable gowns), mix under a hood, keep unnecessary people out of the room, and dispose of contaminated body fluids and laundry separately.

What can happen if OSHA representatives find non-compliance during an unexpected inspection?

Penalties can be instituted.