SafetyVet
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Rabies Is Making A ComebackRabies is a very serious, usually fatal viral disease that can affect any warm-blooded animal (including humans). The virus is spread by contact with an infected animal's saliva. Usually, an infected animal bites another, non-infected animal, but the disease has been transmitted by saliva (even the residue left on a dog's bowl after eating) coming in contact with an open wound or the mucous membranes. In the past 15 years, wild and domestic animal cases have been reported in every state in the US except Hawaii. The number of wild animal cases is on the rise and the number of domestic animal cases is fairly steady, however, there is growing concern that this will change. With the recent media attention to "over-vaccination" issues, especially with domestic cats, health professionals are worried that people who choose to forgo vaccinations in their pets because of cancer fears may be weakening the primary disease barrier between humans and the wild animal population. Although human rabies is pretty rare, it's one of the most serious diseases around. Prevention of the disease is paramount since there is no cure once symptoms appear. And the best prevention we can think of is knowledge about the risks so that procedural precautions can be instituted. Does OSHA require rabies vaccinations for veterinary workers?
Although there is no direct requirement, OSHA's General Duty Clause does require employers to pro- vide a workplace free from unnecessary dangers. In past situations involving other industries (professions), when protection (such as vaccinations for hepatitis-B) was available and the risk was found to be greater than the average population (such as human healthcare workers), OSHA has required the employer to provide the protection at no charge to the employee or obtain the employee's written waiver of the vaccine. In any case, it is necessary to inform the worker of the exact nature and degree of risk, as well as the everyday safety methods to use. Even though some hospitals experience a high turnover rate in a few jobs, and the pre-exposure vaccinations are a significant expense, many people believe this a WIN/WIN situation for the hospital. According to Dr. Brent Calhoun, noted Veterinary Consultant, "Present it as something which you do to ensure their (the staff) safety, and although it's not required, they are important to you. This way you demonstrate you have taken the high road to them...and to any legal body who may be interest- ed." Although requiring the vaccinations will not alleviate the necessity for adequate training and procedures, it will go a long way in solidifying the employer/employee relationship as a synergistic one. Of course the decision on exactly who should be vaccinated and the associated costs must still be addressed. Although some hospitals have required a sufficient rabies titre as a condition of employment, this practice would probably not pass an OSHA review. Since employers are required to provide the necessary safety equipment (and in the case of the human medical field, vaccinations for hepatitis, etc.) this may be viewed the same as requiring the employee to furnish their own safety devices. Despite the fact that pre-exposure rabies vaccinations are not required, most businesses would readily institute the program if the cost were less or they had a guarantee that the employee would stay around long enough to finish the series! With these factors in mind, the decision must be balanced between the needs of the hospital, the needs of the worker, and the financial costs of the program. Not all employees should be vaccinated. That is the first decision that must be explored. Unless the worker has significant contact with animals that pose a risk, protection is not usually necessary. Receptionists, bookkeepers, and other administrative staff members, if restricted from contact with high risk animals would need the protection. Groomers would normally not be at an increased risk because the animals they handle are always healthy and properly vaccinated. Animal caretakers, technicians and veterinarians should be considered at risk if they examine, treat or care for high risk animals. Not all veterinarians, technicians or animal caretakers need to handle these cases; designate a high risk team to handle and treat all wild, feral or suspicious animals. Only the members of the high risk team will then need to be vaccinated.
The information on these pages is excerpted from |
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There
is no direct OSHA standard that requires veterinary healthcare workers to be vaccinated
against rabies. That's the simple answer. However, there are many more factors that must
be considered before making this decision. 