Veterinary Safety Manual

What Should a Veterinary Safety Manual Include?

The contents of a Veterinary Safety Manual should reflect the practice’s actual operations.

A small companion-animal clinic may need a different combination of programs than an emergency animal hospital, specialty surgical practice, veterinary oncology center, equine practice, mixed-animal practice, or mobile veterinarian.

Depending on operations, the manual may address:

• Veterinary safety responsibilities.
• Hazard assessments.
• Safety inspections.
• Animal handling and restraint.
• Animal behavior and hazard recognition.
• Bite and scratch prevention.
• Zoonotic diseases.
• Veterinary infection control.
• Needlestick and sharps safety.
• Veterinary anesthesia safety.
• Waste anesthetic gases.
• Hazard Communication.
• Veterinary chemical safety.
• Hazardous drugs.
• Personal Protective Equipment.
• Veterinary radiation safety.
• Animal allergens.
• Respiratory hazards.
• Veterinary ergonomics.
• Animal lifting and transfers.
• Kennel safety.
• Emergency procedures.

Programs should be selected according to the animals treated, work performed, hazards present, equipment used, and applicable safety requirements.

Veterinary Safety Program

An effective Veterinary Safety Program establishes responsibilities and procedures for identifying workplace hazards, safely handling and restraining animals, preventing zoonotic disease exposure, controlling chemical and anesthetic-gas exposures, preventing sharps injuries, providing appropriate PPE, and correcting unsafe conditions.

Management should provide employees with the equipment, safeguards, training, PPE, and resources necessary to perform assigned work safely.

Veterinarians, managers, supervisors, and other designated personnel should:

• Identify workplace hazards.
• Evaluate animal-handling risks.
• Establish safe animal-restraint procedures.
• Maintain infection-control procedures.
• Evaluate zoonotic disease exposures.
• Maintain sharps-safety procedures.
• Evaluate anesthetic-gas exposure.
• Evaluate chemical and hazardous-drug exposures.
• Maintain engineering controls.
• Provide appropriate PPE.
• Maintain equipment and safeguards.
• Conduct workplace inspections.
• Provide employee training.
• Correct unsafe conditions.
• Investigate injuries and exposure incidents.
• Maintain applicable records.

Employees should follow established procedures, use required safeguards and PPE, report unsafe conditions, and promptly report animal bites, scratches, sharps injuries, chemical exposures, and other occupational incidents.

Veterinary Hazard Assessments

Veterinary operations should be evaluated to identify biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic, and other workplace hazards.

Hazard assessments may consider:

• Animal behavior.
• Bites and scratches.
• Kicks and crushing injuries.
• Animal restraint.
• Zoonotic diseases.
• Needles and sharps.
• Animal blood and body fluids.
• Anesthetic gases.
• Hazardous drugs.
• Cleaning and disinfecting chemicals.
• Radiation.
• Animal allergens.
• Noise.
• Lifting and material handling.
• Slips and falls.
• Outdoor hazards.
• Vehicle operation.

Assessments should be reviewed when species, services, procedures, equipment, medications, chemicals, or workplace conditions change significantly.

Veterinary Safety Inspections

Periodic safety inspections can help identify unsafe conditions and verify that established procedures are being followed.

Inspections may include:

• Examination rooms.
• Treatment areas.
• Surgical suites.
• Animal wards.
• Kennels.
• Isolation areas.
• Laboratories.
• Pharmacy and medication areas.
• Anesthesia equipment.
• Scavenging systems.
• X-ray areas.
• Sharps containers.
• Chemical-storage areas.
• Compressed gas cylinders.
• Animal-handling equipment.
• PPE supplies.
• Emergency equipment.
• Exit routes.
• Fire-protection equipment.

Identified deficiencies should be documented and corrected in a timely manner.

Job Safety Analysis (JSA/JHA)

A Job Safety Analysis (JSA/JHA) may be useful for selected veterinary tasks where a step-by-step hazard analysis can improve employee protection.

Potential JSAs/JHAs may address:

• Animal restraint.
• Large-animal handling.
• Animal lifting and transfers.
• Radiographic procedures.
• Anesthesia-machine setup.
• Chemical handling.
• Hazardous-drug handling.
• Kennel cleaning.
• Compressed gas cylinder handling.
• Animal-waste handling.
• Equipment maintenance.

Routine clinical procedures may also be addressed through veterinary protocols, infection-control procedures, and established safe work practices.

Animal Handling and Restraint

Animal contact is a major source of occupational injuries in veterinary workplaces.

Employees may be bitten, scratched, kicked, crushed, knocked down, or otherwise injured by animals that are frightened, painful, aggressive, territorial, or unfamiliar with the environment.

Animal handling procedures should consider:

• Species.
• Size.
• Temperament.
• Health condition.
• Pain.
• Procedure being performed.
• Previous behavior.
• Environment.
• Available restraint equipment.
• Number of employees needed.

Employees should not attempt restraint that exceeds their training, physical ability, or available resources.

Animal Behavior and Hazard Recognition

Employees should be trained to recognize behavioral signals that may indicate fear, agitation, pain, aggression, or other conditions that increase the likelihood of injury.

Before approaching or handling an animal, employees should evaluate:

• Body posture.
• Vocalization.
• Previous behavior.
• Owner-provided information.
• Injury or illness.
• Environmental stress.
• Escape routes.
• Presence of other animals.

Employees should modify the handling approach when an animal’s behavior indicates increased risk.

Bite and Scratch Prevention

Employees should use handling and restraint methods appropriate to the species and animal.

Where appropriate, controls may include:

• Physical barriers.
• Restraint devices.
• Towels or blankets.
• Muzzles.
• Protective equipment.
• Additional trained personnel.
• Chemical restraint or sedation when clinically appropriate.

Employees should avoid placing their face or other vulnerable body parts unnecessarily close to an animal capable of biting or scratching.

Animal Bites and Scratches

Animal bites and scratches should be promptly reported and appropriately evaluated.

Employees should follow established procedures for:

• Immediate wound cleaning.
• Incident reporting.
• Medical evaluation.
• Infection concerns.
• Rabies evaluation when appropriate.
• Documentation.
• Follow-up.

Even apparently minor bites and scratches can result in infection or other complications.

Aggressive or Frightened Animals

Employees should not unnecessarily escalate interactions with frightened or aggressive animals.

When an animal cannot be safely handled using ordinary methods, employees should obtain assistance and use alternative restraint or clinical approaches appropriate to the circumstances.

Employees should not continue a procedure simply because it has already begun when changing animal behavior creates an unacceptable risk.

Animal Restraint During Procedures

Restraint should provide sufficient control for the procedure without unnecessarily increasing stress or injury risk to the animal or employees.

Employees should communicate before and during procedures involving multiple workers.

The person performing the procedure and the person restraining the animal should understand their respective responsibilities.

Large Animal Safety — When Applicable

Large-animal and mixed-animal practices may expose employees to kicks, crushing, trampling, pinning, sudden animal movement, gates, chutes, trailers, and other significant hazards.

Procedures may address:

• Safe approach.
• Escape routes.
• Positioning.
• Gates and barriers.
• Chutes and stocks.
• Halters and leads.
• Animal loading and unloading.
• Working around horses and livestock.
• Working alone.

Employees should avoid positioning themselves where they can be trapped between a large animal and a fixed object.

Zoonotic Disease Exposure

Veterinary workers may be exposed to infectious diseases that can spread from animals to humans.

Potential exposure may occur through:

• Bites.
• Scratches.
• Animal blood.
• Saliva.
• Urine.
• Feces.
• Respiratory secretions.
• Reproductive fluids.
• Contaminated surfaces.
• Aerosols.
• Needlestick injuries.
• Direct animal contact.

The veterinary practice should establish infection-control procedures appropriate to the species and diseases reasonably anticipated.

Veterinary Infection Control

Veterinary infection-control procedures should reduce occupational exposure to zoonotic organisms and contaminated materials.

Procedures may address:

• Hand hygiene.
• PPE.
• Animal handling.
• Sharps safety.
• Cleaning and disinfection.
• Isolation.
• Laundry.
• Waste.
• Exposure reporting.
• Employee health considerations.

Controls should reflect the animals, services, and infectious hazards present in the practice.

Veterinary Standard Precautions

Appropriate infection-control precautions should be applied during veterinary activities where exposure to infectious materials may occur.

Employees should use work practices and PPE appropriate to the task rather than relying solely on whether an animal is known to have an infectious disease.

Hand Hygiene

Employees should perform appropriate hand hygiene:

• Before and after animal contact when indicated.
• After contact with animal blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, or contaminated materials.
• After removing gloves.
• After cleaning cages, kennels, or equipment.
• Before eating or drinking.
• Before leaving contaminated work areas when appropriate.

Handwashing facilities and appropriate supplies should be readily available.

Rabies Exposure

Employees whose work creates potential occupational exposure to rabies should receive appropriate information regarding prevention and exposure response.

Procedures should address:

• Animal bite and scratch reporting.
• Immediate wound cleaning.
• Medical evaluation.
• Animal vaccination status.
• Potential rabies exposure.
• Pre-exposure vaccination when appropriate.
• Post-exposure evaluation.

Employees should promptly report potential rabies exposures.

Isolation of Infectious Animals

Animals known or suspected to have transmissible diseases may require isolation or other infection-control measures.

Procedures should address:

• Access restrictions.
• PPE.
• Hand hygiene.
• Cleaning.
• Waste.
• Equipment.
• Animal movement.
• Signage or communication.
• Employee exposure.

Isolation procedures should reflect the suspected disease and route of transmission.

Animal Blood and Body Fluids

Employees should minimize direct contact with animal blood, secretions, excretions, and other potentially infectious materials.

Appropriate gloves, eye and face protection, protective clothing, and other controls should be used according to the anticipated exposure.

Employees should follow established procedures for cleanup and disposal.

Bloodborne Pathogens — When Applicable

Animal blood is not automatically treated as human blood under OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.

Veterinary employers should separately evaluate whether any employees have occupational exposure to human blood or other materials covered by applicable Bloodborne Pathogens requirements.

Regardless of whether the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard applies to a particular animal exposure, veterinary employees should be protected from zoonotic and other biological hazards associated with animal blood and body fluids.

Veterinary Needlestick and Sharps Safety

Veterinary employees may use needles, syringes, scalpels, suture needles, lancets, and other sharp instruments.

Sharps injuries may expose employees to infectious organisms, medications, vaccines, anesthetic agents, or other substances.

Employees should:

• Minimize unnecessary handling.
• Use safe injection practices.
• Dispose of sharps promptly.
• Use appropriate sharps containers.
• Avoid reaching into sharps containers.
• Avoid unnecessary recapping.
• Report sharps injuries immediately.

Veterinary Needlestick Injuries

A veterinary needlestick may involve more than a puncture wound.

Depending on the circumstances, an employee may be exposed to:

• Animal blood.
• Zoonotic organisms.
• Vaccines.
• Antibiotics.
• Sedatives.
• Anesthetic agents.
• Hazardous drugs.
• Other veterinary medications.

Employees should promptly report needlestick injuries so the exposure can be appropriately evaluated.

Sharps Containers

Used needles, scalpel blades, and other sharps should be promptly placed into appropriate puncture-resistant sharps containers.

Containers should be located conveniently to reduce unnecessary transport of unprotected sharps.

Sharps containers should be replaced before overfilling creates an additional hazard.

Veterinary Anesthesia Safety

Veterinary surgical and treatment procedures may expose employees to anesthetic agents and waste anesthetic gases.

The practice should evaluate anesthesia procedures and establish controls appropriate to the agents, equipment, facility, and procedures used.

Controls may address:

• Anesthesia machines.
• Scavenging.
• Ventilation.
• Equipment inspection.
• Leak prevention.
• Work practices.
• Recovery areas.
• Employee training.

Waste Anesthetic Gases

Waste anesthetic gases can enter the workplace through leaks, poor connections, masks, breathing circuits, equipment, and exhalation by recovering animals.

Animal movement can make control of anesthetic-gas leakage more difficult.

Engineering and work-practice controls should be used to minimize employee exposure.

Anesthetic Gas Scavenging

Effective scavenging systems should be used as appropriate to capture and remove waste anesthetic gases.

Scavenging systems should be:

• Properly connected.
• Operated according to manufacturer instructions.
• Maintained in functional condition.
• Evaluated when performance problems are suspected.

Employees should understand how to recognize obvious scavenging-system problems.

Anesthesia Equipment Inspection

Anesthesia machines, breathing circuits, hoses, masks, connections, and scavenging equipment should be inspected and maintained according to established procedures.

Employees should promptly report:

• Cracked tubing.
• Loose connections.
• Damaged masks.
• Leaks.
• Abnormal pressure.
• Inadequate scavenging.

Defective equipment should be repaired or replaced as appropriate.

Anesthetic Gas Leak Prevention

Employees should use appropriate procedures when connecting, operating, and disconnecting anesthesia equipment.

Leaks should be corrected rather than accepted as a normal part of veterinary anesthesia.

Equipment should be maintained according to manufacturer recommendations.

Recovery Areas

Animals recovering from anesthesia may continue to exhale anesthetic gases.

Recovery areas should be evaluated for ventilation and employee exposure.

Employees should also remain alert for unpredictable animal behavior as patients regain consciousness.

Hazard Communication

Veterinary practices using hazardous chemicals should maintain an appropriate Hazard Communication Program.

The program should address applicable:

• Chemical inventories.
• Safety Data Sheets.
• Container labeling.
• Employee information and training.
• Non-routine tasks.
• Contractor communication.

Employees should understand how to obtain and use Safety Data Sheets.

Veterinary Chemical Safety

Veterinary practices may use disinfectants, sterilants, laboratory reagents, pesticides, cleaning products, medications, and other hazardous substances.

Employees should:

• Follow label and Safety Data Sheet precautions.
• Use required PPE.
• Maintain container labels.
• Store chemicals appropriately.
• Avoid unauthorized mixing.
• Follow established dilution procedures.
• Report spills and damaged containers.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Chemicals

Disinfectants and cleaning products should be used according to manufacturer instructions and established procedures.

Employees should understand applicable:

• PPE requirements.
• Dilution procedures.
• Ventilation precautions.
• Contact hazards.
• Storage requirements.
• Spill procedures.

Employees should not mix chemical products unless specifically instructed and authorized to do so.

Sterilants — When Applicable

Veterinary practices using chemical sterilants or high-level disinfectants should evaluate potential employee exposures.

Procedures should address:

• Handling.
• Ventilation.
• PPE.
• Storage.
• Spill response.
• Exposure procedures.
• Disposal.

Pesticides — When Applicable

Veterinary practices may use flea, tick, mite, or other pesticide products.

Employees should follow product labels and established procedures.

Potential exposure through skin contact, inhalation, splashes, spills, or contaminated animals should be considered when selecting controls and PPE.

Hazardous Drugs — When Applicable

Veterinary practices that receive, prepare, administer, or dispose of hazardous drugs should establish procedures for protecting exposed employees.

Potential exposures may occur during:

• Receiving.
• Storage.
• Drug preparation.
• Administration.
• Spill cleanup.
• Waste handling.
• Cleaning.
• Laundry.
• Handling animal urine, feces, vomit, or other excreta following treatment.

Controls should reflect the drugs and tasks actually present in the practice.

Veterinary Chemotherapy — When Applicable

Veterinary oncology practices may administer antineoplastic drugs that can present significant occupational hazards.

Procedures may address:

• Authorized personnel.
• Designated preparation areas.
• Engineering controls.
• PPE.
• Administration.
• Spill response.
• Treated animal waste.
• Laundry.
• Hazardous-drug disposal.
• Employee training.

Employees should understand that exposure may continue through contaminated surfaces and animal waste after administration.

Hazardous Drug Spill Response

Practices using hazardous drugs should maintain appropriate spill-response procedures and supplies.

Employees assigned to spill cleanup should receive appropriate training and PPE.

Spills beyond an employee’s training, equipment, or assigned responsibilities should be isolated and referred for appropriate response.

Personal Protective Equipment

PPE requirements should be based on the animals, procedures, chemicals, biological hazards, and physical hazards encountered.

Depending on the task, PPE may include:

• Examination gloves.
• Chemical-resistant gloves.
• Heavy protective gloves.
• Safety glasses.
• Goggles.
• Face shields.
• Protective clothing.
• Protective footwear.
• Hearing protection.
• Respiratory protection.

PPE should be selected according to the actual hazard rather than using one type of protection for every task.

Eye and Face Protection

Veterinary procedures may create splashes, sprays, flying particles, animal scratches, chemical exposure, or other eye and face hazards.

Appropriate safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or combinations of protection should be used based on the task.

Protective Clothing

Protective clothing may be necessary to protect employees from animal body fluids, chemicals, infectious materials, hazardous drugs, or physical hazards.

Contaminated protective clothing should be removed and handled according to established procedures.

Protective Footwear

Appropriate footwear can help protect employees from slips, animal contact, dropped objects, punctures, and crushing hazards.

Large-animal work may require substantially different footwear than small-animal clinical work.

Animal Allergens

Veterinary employees may be exposed to allergenic proteins from:

• Hair and fur.
• Dander.
• Saliva.
• Urine.
• Other animal materials.

Exposure may contribute to skin reactions, allergies, or occupational asthma in susceptible employees.

Facilities should evaluate ventilation, cleaning practices, PPE, and other controls where allergen exposure is significant.

Respiratory Hazards

Respiratory hazards in veterinary workplaces may include:

• Animal allergens.
• Infectious aerosols.
• Disinfectants.
• Anesthetic gases.
• Laboratory chemicals.
• Dust.
• Pesticides.
• Other airborne contaminants.

The employer should evaluate respiratory hazards and use appropriate engineering, administrative, work-practice, and PPE controls.

Respiratory Protection — When Required

When respirators are necessary to protect employees from occupational respiratory hazards, an appropriate Respiratory Protection Program should be established.

Applicable requirements may include:

• Hazard evaluation.
• Respirator selection.
• Medical evaluation.
• Fit testing.
• Training.
• Inspection.
• Maintenance.
• Program evaluation.

A surgical mask should not automatically be treated as equivalent to a respirator required for a particular inhalation hazard.

Veterinary Radiation Safety — When Applicable

Veterinary practices using X-ray or other ionizing-radiation equipment should establish appropriate radiation-safety procedures.

Veterinary radiography creates a distinctive combination of radiation and animal-restraint hazards.

Procedures may address:

• Safe positioning.
• Animal restraint.
• Restricted access.
• Protective garments.
• Equipment condition.
• Exposure monitoring when required.
• Portable equipment.
• Employee training.
• Applicable radiation-control requirements.

Animal Restraint During X-Rays

Physical restraint during radiographic procedures should be minimized where feasible through appropriate animal-handling methods, positioning devices, sedation, or other suitable methods.

When an employee must restrain an animal during an exposure, appropriate protective measures should be used.

Employees should avoid placing any part of their body in the primary X-ray beam.

Radiation Protective Equipment

Where required by the procedure, protective equipment may include:

• Lead aprons.
• Protective gloves.
• Thyroid protection.
• Other appropriate shielding.

Protective garments should be maintained and inspected according to established procedures.

Portable X-Ray Equipment — When Applicable

Mobile and large-animal practices may use portable radiographic equipment.

Procedures should address:

• Equipment positioning.
• Employee location.
• Animal restraint.
• Bystander control.
• Protective equipment.
• Applicable radiation requirements.

Veterinary Laboratory Safety — When Applicable

Veterinary laboratories may involve biological specimens, chemicals, reagents, centrifuges, sharps, infectious materials, and other hazards.

Laboratory procedures should reflect the testing actually performed.

Controls may address:

• Specimen handling.
• PPE.
• Chemical safety.
• Centrifuge operation.
• Sharps.
• Decontamination.
• Waste.
• Emergency procedures.

Specimen Handling

Animal blood, urine, feces, tissue, and other specimens should be collected, contained, handled, and transported in a manner that minimizes employee exposure.

Employees should use appropriate PPE and follow procedures for leaking or damaged containers.

Centrifuge Safety — When Applicable

Employees operating centrifuges should follow manufacturer instructions and established procedures.

Procedures may address:

• Tube inspection.
• Balancing.
• Rotor condition.
• Lid operation.
• Specimen containment.
• Cleaning.
• Response to broken tubes or spills.

Sterilizers and Autoclaves — When Applicable

Sterilizers and autoclaves can expose employees to heat, steam, hot surfaces, and pressurized equipment.

Employees should follow manufacturer instructions and established operating procedures.

Appropriate PPE should be used when handling hot materials.

Leaks, damaged seals, or other equipment defects should be promptly reported.

Compressed Gas Cylinders

Veterinary practices may use oxygen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, or other compressed gases.

Cylinders should be appropriately:

• Secured.
• Stored.
• Handled.
• Protected from damage.
• Equipped with appropriate regulators and connections.

Employees should receive appropriate instruction before changing cylinders or performing other specialized tasks.

Oxygen Safety

Oxygen can accelerate combustion.

Employees should keep oxygen equipment away from inappropriate ignition sources and protect cylinders, valves, hoses, and connections from damage.

Only compatible equipment should be used.

Veterinary Ergonomics

Veterinary employees may experience significant physical demands while lifting, restraining, positioning, treating, or transporting animals.

Potential ergonomic risk factors include:

• Heavy lifting.
• Awkward loads.
• Sudden animal movement.
• Repetitive work.
• Prolonged standing.
• Bending.
• Reaching.
• Forceful restraint.
• Awkward clinical positions.

Work practices and equipment should be evaluated to reduce unnecessary musculoskeletal stress.

Animal Lifting and Transfers

Employees should evaluate an animal’s size, weight, condition, temperament, and ability to assist before attempting a lift or transfer.

Where appropriate, employees should use:

• Team lifting.
• Lift tables.
• Stretchers.
• Carts.
• Ramps.
• Mechanical assistance.
• Other suitable equipment.

Employees should not attempt to lift an animal that cannot be safely handled by one person.

Kennel Safety

Kennel and animal-housing areas may expose employees to:

• Bites and scratches.
• Slippery floors.
• Noise.
• Animal waste.
• Cleaning chemicals.
• Zoonotic organisms.
• Manual lifting.
• Escaping animals.

Kennels should be maintained in safe condition and cleaned using procedures that minimize employee exposure.

Kennel Cleaning

Employees cleaning kennels, cages, runs, or animal-housing areas should use appropriate PPE and cleaning procedures.

Potential hazards may include animal waste, disinfectants, wet floors, splashes, allergens, and infectious materials.

Animals should be appropriately controlled before cleaning begins.

Animal Waste

Employees handling animal feces, urine, bedding, litter, and other waste should use appropriate infection-control procedures.

Waste should be handled in a manner that minimizes:

• Direct contact.
• Splashes.
• Aerosol generation.
• Cross-contamination.
• Unnecessary manual handling.

Special procedures may be necessary for waste from animals treated with hazardous drugs or known or suspected to have infectious diseases.

Laundry

Bedding, towels, protective garments, and other laundry may be contaminated with animal waste, biological materials, hazardous drugs, or chemicals.

Procedures should address:

• Handling.
• Bagging.
• Transport.
• Washing.
• PPE.
• Cross-contamination.

Employees should avoid unnecessary shaking of contaminated laundry.

Slips, Trips and Falls

Veterinary workplaces may have wet floors, animal waste, leashes, equipment, hoses, cords, carriers, and other potential slip or trip hazards.

Employees should promptly correct or report unsafe conditions.

Wet areas should be appropriately cleaned, marked, or protected.

Walking-Working Surfaces

Floors, stairs, ramps, walkways, treatment areas, and other walking-working surfaces should be maintained in safe condition.

Special attention should be given to areas where water, animal waste, cleaning products, or animal movement create additional hazards.

Noise — When Applicable

Barking dogs, animal vocalizations, equipment, and machinery may create significant workplace noise.

The employer should evaluate noise exposure where employees must work in loud animal-housing or treatment areas.

Where required, controls may include:

• Engineering controls.
• Administrative controls.
• Hearing protection.
• Employee training.
• Hearing Conservation measures.

Electrical Safety

Electrical equipment, cords, plugs, receptacles, and panels should be maintained in safe condition.

Veterinary employees should use additional caution where electrical equipment is used near wet areas.

Employees should not use damaged equipment.

Only qualified or otherwise authorized personnel should perform electrical work requiring specialized knowledge or training.

Hand and Power Tools — When Applicable

Maintenance, hoof care, laboratory activities, large-animal procedures, and other veterinary work may involve powered or hand tools.

Employees should use tools only for their intended purpose and according to established procedures.

Required guards and safeguards should remain installed.

Appropriate PPE should be used.

Outdoor Work — When Applicable

Large-animal, mobile, farm, zoo, wildlife, and other veterinary activities may expose employees to:

• Heat.
• Cold.
• Sun.
• Uneven terrain.
• Insects.
• Wildlife.
• Vehicle traffic.
• Severe weather.

Outdoor-work procedures should reflect the environment and tasks being performed.

Heat Stress — When Applicable

Employees performing outdoor or physically demanding veterinary work may be exposed to heat.

Appropriate measures may include:

• Drinking water.
• Rest.
• Shade or cooling.
• Acclimatization.
• Training.
• Emergency response.

Vehicle Safety — When Applicable

Mobile veterinarians and employees traveling to farms, homes, or other locations may spend substantial time driving.

Vehicle-safety procedures may address:

• Authorized drivers.
• Seat-belt use.
• Distracted driving.
• Fatigue.
• Vehicle inspections.
• Weather.
• Transport of equipment, medications, gases, or animals.
• Accident reporting.

Workplace Violence Prevention

Veterinary employees may encounter angry, distressed, or threatening clients or other individuals.

Workplace violence procedures should reflect the practice’s actual risk factors.

Procedures may address:

• Recognizing concerning behavior.
• De-escalation where appropriate.
• Emergency communication.
• Obtaining assistance.
• Reporting threats.
• Access control.
• Contacting law enforcement.

Employees should prioritize personal safety when confronted by threatening behavior.

Working Alone — When Applicable

Veterinary employees may work alone during after-hours care, mobile visits, large-animal calls, kennel work, laboratory activities, or emergency situations.

Where employees work alone, procedures should address:

• Communication.
• Check-in procedures where appropriate.
• Emergency assistance.
• Animal-handling hazards.
• Security.
• Higher-risk tasks.

The employer should evaluate whether particular activities are appropriate for an employee working alone.

Animal Escape

Veterinary practices should establish procedures for responding to escaped animals.

Employees should consider the risk to themselves, other employees, clients, the public, and the animal before attempting recapture.

Employees should not create a greater hazard through unsafe pursuit or restraint.

Fire Prevention

Fire-prevention procedures should reflect the hazards present within the veterinary practice.

Potential considerations include:

• Oxygen.
• Compressed gases.
• Anesthetic equipment.
• Electrical equipment.
• Flammable materials.
• Laboratory activities.
• Animal-housing areas.

Fire-protection equipment should remain accessible.

Emergency Action Plan

Veterinary workplaces should establish procedures for foreseeable emergencies.

The Emergency Action Plan may address:

• Fire.
• Severe weather.
• Power failure.
• Chemical releases.
• Gas leaks.
• Workplace violence.
• Animal escape.
• Medical emergencies.
• Evacuation.
• Shelter-in-place.

Emergency planning should consider both employee safety and the challenges created by animals present in the facility.

Animal Evacuation

Where animals are housed within the facility, emergency planning should consider how animals may affect employee evacuation and emergency response.

Employees should understand their assigned responsibilities.

Employees should not delay personal evacuation or enter dangerous conditions to rescue animals unless they are appropriately trained, equipped, and authorized to perform the activity.

Disaster Response — When Applicable

Veterinary employees may participate in animal evacuation, sheltering, treatment, or other activities following fires, floods, wildfires, storms, or other disasters.

Disaster-response work may introduce additional hazards involving:

• Frightened or displaced animals.
• Zoonotic disease.
• Heat or cold.
• Debris.
• Contaminated water.
• Chemicals.
• Sharps.
• Fatigue.
• Unfamiliar work environments.

Employees should receive appropriate instruction and protective equipment before performing disaster-response duties.

First Aid and Employee Injuries

Veterinary practices should establish procedures for obtaining prompt medical assistance for employee injuries.

Particular attention should be given to:

• Animal bites.
• Scratches.
• Needlestick injuries.
• Chemical exposure.
• Eye exposure.
• Lifting injuries.
• Allergic reactions.

Employees should promptly report occupational injuries and exposures.

Contractor Safety

Veterinary facilities may use outside contractors for equipment service, waste handling, HVAC maintenance, construction, electrical work, pest control, cleaning, and other specialized services.

Contractor activities should be coordinated to protect employees, clients, and animals.

Relevant hazard information should be exchanged when required.

Veterinary Safety Training

Safety training should reflect each employee’s assigned duties, species handled, and occupational exposures.

Depending on operations, training may address:

• Animal handling and restraint.
• Animal behavior.
• Bite and scratch prevention.
• Zoonotic diseases.
• Veterinary infection control.
• Sharps safety.
• Anesthetic gases.
• Hazard Communication.
• Chemical safety.
• Hazardous drugs.
• PPE.
• Radiation safety.
• Animal lifting.
• Compressed gases.
• Emergency procedures.
• Workplace violence.

Training should be provided before employees independently perform tasks requiring specific knowledge or skills and repeated when required or when conditions indicate retraining is necessary.

New Employee Safety Orientation

New employees should receive appropriate safety orientation before independently performing hazardous work.

Orientation may address:

• General veterinary safety.
• Animal handling.
• Zoonotic disease.
• Bite and scratch prevention.
• Sharps.
• PPE.
• Chemical safety.
• Anesthesia hazards.
• Emergency procedures.
• Injury reporting.

Employees should receive task-specific instruction before handling unfamiliar species, equipment, chemicals, medications, or procedures.

Veterinary JSA/JHA

Veterinary practices can use JSAs/JHAs to document safe work procedures for recurring higher-hazard tasks.

Potential Veterinary JSAs/JHAs include:

• Animal restraint.
• Large-animal handling.
• Animal lifting.
• Radiographic procedures.
• Anesthesia-machine operation.
• Kennel cleaning.
• Hazardous-drug handling.
• Chemical spill cleanup.
• Compressed gas cylinder handling.
• Mobile veterinary work.

Veterinary Safety Meetings

Periodic safety meetings can reinforce safe work practices and address current workplace concerns.

Potential topics include:

• Animal behavior.
• Bite prevention.
• Safe restraint.
• Zoonotic diseases.
• Needlestick prevention.
• Anesthetic gases.
• Chemical safety.
• Hazardous drugs.
• PPE.
• Animal lifting.
• Radiation safety.
• Emergency procedures.

Recordkeeping

Veterinary practices should maintain occupational safety and health records required for their operations.

Records may include:

• Employee training.
• Safety inspections.
• Animal-related injury reports.
• Needlestick and sharps incidents.
• Chemical exposure incidents.
• Respirator records where applicable.
• Radiation records where applicable.
• Equipment inspections.
• Other required program records.

Confidential employee medical information should be maintained according to applicable requirements.

Additional Safety Programs

Depending on veterinary operations, additional safety programs may be necessary for:

• Hazard Communication.
• Respiratory Protection.
• Ionizing Radiation.
• Hazardous Drugs.
• Laboratory Safety.
• Compressed Gas Cylinders.
• Hearing Conservation.
• Ergonomics.
• Heat Stress.
• Cold Stress.
• Vehicle Safety.
• Hazardous Waste.
• Spill Prevention and Response.
• Workplace Violence Prevention.
• Working Alone.

These programs should be included when employee activities or workplace hazards make them applicable rather than automatically adding programs unrelated to the veterinary practice.

Building a Veterinary Safety Manual

A useful Veterinary Safety Manual should reflect the actual practice rather than simply adapting a generic healthcare manual.

A companion-animal clinic may require a different combination of programs than an emergency veterinary hospital, equine practice, mixed-animal practice, mobile veterinarian, veterinary oncology center, or specialty surgical facility.

The manual should consider:

• Species treated.
• Animal size and temperament.
• Clinical services.
• Surgical procedures.
• Zoonotic disease exposure.
• Sharps.
• Anesthetic gases.
• Medications.
• Hazardous drugs.
• Chemicals.
• Diagnostic imaging.
• Laboratory activities.
• Kennel operations.
• Outdoor work.
• Vehicle operations.
• Emergency and after-hours work.

Selecting the appropriate programs creates a manual that is comprehensive without filling it with procedures unrelated to the practice.

Customized Veterinary Safety Manuals

A Veterinary Safety Manual can be developed around the specific animals, services, employee exposures, equipment, chemicals, medications, anesthetic systems, diagnostic procedures, and other hazards of the practice.

The finished manual may incorporate applicable programs for animal handling and restraint, zoonotic diseases, veterinary infection control, sharps safety, anesthetic gases, Hazard Communication, hazardous drugs, PPE, radiation, ergonomics, compressed gases, emergency procedures, and other hazards present within the operation.

This provides veterinary employers with a practical safety manual organized around the work their employees actually perform.

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Safety Resources

Safety Manuals
Safety Programs
Job Safety Analysis (JSA/JHA)
Toolbox Talks & Safety Meetings
Safety Forms
Safety Audit & Inspection

Related Programs

Animal Handling & Restraint
Zoonotic Disease Exposure Control
Infectious Disease Exposure Control
Needlestick & Sharps Safety
Hazard Communication
Chemical Safety
Hazardous Drugs
Personal Protective Equipment
Eye & Face Protection
Hand Protection
Respiratory Protection
Ionizing Radiation
Laboratory Safety
Compressed Gas Cylinders
Ergonomics
Manual Lifting & Material Handling
Hearing Conservation
Slips, Trips & Falls
Walking-Working Surfaces
Housekeeping
Heat Stress Prevention
Cold Stress
Workplace Violence Prevention
Workplace Security
Working Alone
Electrical Safety
Fire Prevention
Emergency Action Plan
First Aid
Spill Prevention & Response
Hazardous Waste Management
Vehicle Safety
Short Service Employee
Subcontractor Management

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