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The E-Digest OSHA Compliance & Practice Safety Newsletter - Issue 28 – October 2007 Brought to you by SafetyVet.com!
In this issue:
This
e-mail is being sent to you because you subscribed via our web site. Welcome to this issue of The E-Digest OSHA Compliance & Practice Safety Newsletter! We've added this service to our web site and it's FREE, so pass the word. The E-Digest covers a whole range of safety and OSHA compliance topics in each issue so there's something for everyone! The articles are all specific to the veterinary profession. Every couple of months you'll receive a new issue of The E-Digest Newsletter packed full of useful information and links to resources on the web that are selected specifically to enhance your hospital's safety operations! And as always, if we can be of further assistance, don't
hesitate to call on us. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workplace homicides are increasing faster than any other cause of worker fatalities. A new training and educational DVD on preventing workplace violence has been produced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Violence on the Job is a 27-minute video (in two separate programs) that discusses practical measures for identifying risk factors for violence at work, and offers recommendations and resources to help keep workers safe. The video is based on NIOSH research and includes information from other authoritative sources. Here’s a link to that part of the NIOSH web site: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/video/violence.html The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation recently launched a new "Protect Your Workplace" campaign that highlights avenues to protect workplaces from both physical and cyber threats (http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/distributable.html#work). The program is designed for all businesses, including government agencies, and features a series of four posters that focus on such issues as robberies and break-ins, computer intrusions and corporate espionage, and identity theft and intellectual property violations. A brochure is also available that combines information from the four posters into a tri-fold for quick reference. There is a lot of misunderstanding in the veterinary profession about security and violence prevention. Some folks believe the veterinary practice is not a high risk target for violence and therefore security measures are not warranted. Some believe that the addition of security measures will give the practice a “fort-like” atmosphere. And still others believe that security precautions create too much of an inconvenience for the staff and are not worth the effort. The reality is that most security procedures don’t cost a lot of money and integrate easily into everyday operations. And for those that believe the risk is not serious enough to warrant action, consider the workplace murder of a Nashville, TN receptionist in 2006 and a Maryland veterinarian and his wife during a robbery just a few years ago! To read more information on violence prevention and security procedures specifically for the veterinary practice: http://www.safetyvet.com/osha/violence.htm
____________________________________________________ In some cases, one of the benefits of working in the veterinary profession is the ability to bring one’s pet to work. Likewise, many practices have hospital mascots. In itself, these situations are not dangerous or hazardous to the staff and OSHA does not have a regulation prohibiting such activities. However, this issue is far from “black and white.” If the hospital mascots or employees’ pets are allowed to roam freely in the building, there may be a problem in the making. Learn more about the this complex issue: http://www.safetyvet.com/osha/pets.htm ____________________________________________________ Chemotherapy in the Veterinary Practice With the increased use of antineoplastic drugs in private practices, there is great concern that veterinary healthcare workers may be exposed to these cytotoxic drugs (so called because they are toxic at the cellular level) during preparation, storage, administration, and disposal procedures. Although little research has been done on the long-term risks specifically for veterinary healthcare workers, these types of drugs have been associated with human cancers at therapeutic levels, and are carcinogens and teratogens in many animal species. With all these known and suspected problems, OSHA has developed a set of guidelines that are designed to assist workers who may be exposed to cytotoxic drugs through inhalation, skin absorption or trauma. These guidelines are not in a regulation format, but if a worker is ever hurt because the employer decided to ignore such directions, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine the liabilities involved. (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hazardousdrugs/index.html) And of course, more information on the hazards and safe procedures for using chemo drugs in the veterinary practice can be found at: http://www.safetyvet.com/osha/chemo.htm
____________________________________________________ Veterinary workers involved in disaster response and recovery will benefit from a new QuickCard™ published by OSHA. Rescue of Animals (Dogs) by Disaster Relief Personnel offers advice on the appropriate equipment and personal protection for the safe capture of an animal. It also provides guidance on how to avoid being bitten, and what to do if attacked. QuickCards™ are two-sided, 4-by-9 inch laminated cards with occupational safety- and health-related tips in English and Spanish. OSHA's QuickCards™ are free and can be downloaded from the QuickCards™ page (http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/quickcards.html) . Printed copies can be ordered from OSHA's publications page (http://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/pubindex.list), or by calling OSHA's Publications Office at (202) 693-1888. Click this link to view the Rescue of Animals (Dogs) by Disaster Relief Personnel QuickCard™ in PDF format: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/rescuers_of_animals.pdf
____________________________________________________ Have Fun & Be Safe :-)
Philip Seibert, CVT SafetyVet Phone: (423) 336-1925 FAX: (423) 336-6047
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