Answers To Common OSHA Questions
We get many questions about the OSHA rules for veterinary practices.
Sometimes the questions deal with interpreting a standard. Sometimes the
question simply is "How do I do that?" Sometimes the question is to clarify an
issue with conflicting advice. No matter what the question, we're here to help.
We've taken some of the most common questions and used excerpts from
The Complete Veterinary Practice
Regulatory Compliance Manual and past issues of
The Veterinary Safety & Health
Digest to answer them here for you. If you have a question
that you'd like answered, send us a message and we'll do our best to get you the
correct information. Of course, all questions are confidential and we'll never
let anyone else know who asked it, but if we think the question is one that a
lot of folks would like to know the answer to, we may use it in
The
Digest or on this site without revealing the identity of the
originator.
Just click on one of the questions below to get the answer!
New Stuff!
Where can we find information
on the Ebola virus and how it affects veterinary practices?
How do we properly dispose of
products we no longer want to use?
We don't have a
break room. Is food and drink really a safety problem in the
treatment room?
General Safety & Paperwork Issues
How do I get my OSHA program started?
How often do we need to update our safety plans?
How do OSHA's new recordkeeping rules apply to
the veterinary practice?
How do I know if an accidents is
"work-related?"
How do I conduct an accident
investigation? Do OSHA's rules apply in every state?
Is there a Canadian equivalent of OSHA?
Can OSHA inspect my business when I'm not
present?
We lease space in our practice to a veterinary
specialist. Are we responsible for his employees' safety?
Will OSHA collect any fines for violations at
the time of the inspection? How is housekeeping related to
indoor air quality?
Is food and drink in the
veterinary practice really taboo?
Chemicals
What is involved in setting up a
hazard chemical program for the hospital?
What's the best way to organize my MSDS library?
How do we know which chemicals are hazardous?
Do we really need an
MSDS for drugs in our pharmacy?
Do we
really need a spill kit?
Do I really have to label every vial of
medication with a hazardous materials label?
What's the best labeling system to use for
secondary containers of hazardous chemicals?
Is it true that I can't use a faucet-mounted
eyewash in the hospital?
What are the special rules for using gas
sterilization procedures?
How should we clean up broken mercury
thermometers?
What do we need to know
about using chemotherapy drugs in the veterinary practice?
Can we just use a respirator or
mask instead of installing a fan or scavenger?
Animal & Medical Related Issues
Does OSHA
have any regulations covering animal bites and scratches?
Are employee's pets or hospital
mascots a hazard
in the practice?
What is "Noise Hazard" in
the veterinary practice?
Does OSHA require rabies vaccinations for staff
members?
Who can we get to perform the
required annual checks on our anesthesia machines ?
What isolation protocols should we
follow when an animal has a disease?
What constitutes a "good" hand washing?
Are hand sanitizers as effective as a regular
hand washing?
What are the requirements for taking x-rays in a
veterinary hospital?
Our associate is pregnant and
wants to wear a respirator during surgery. Is this a good idea?
What are the safety rules for using a laser for
surgical procedures in a veterinary practice?
Sharps & Medical Waste
How does the new Needlestick
Safety Prevention Act affect veterinary practices?
Can we re-use syringes and needles?
What's the best way to recap a needle?
Fire & Emergencies
Do I really need to post an evacuation diagram in my
clinic?
What are staff
member's responsibilities in an emergency evacuation of the facility?
Do Fire Extinguishers
Expire?
Miscellaneous Issues
Is workplace violence a
problem in the veterinary practice?
How can we take security more
seriously but still maintain accessibility for our staff?
What are the safety training requirements for
veterinary staff?
What should I do when a staff member tells us
she's pregnant?
What do we need to do to comply with OSHA's
Ergonomic Standards?
The information on these pages is excerpted from
The Veterinary Safety & Health Digest and
The Complete Veterinary Practice Regulatory Compliance Manual (5th Edition)
by Philip J. Seibert, Jr., CVT,
Copyright 2003-2003 Philip J. Seibert, Jr., CVT All
Rights Reserved
No part of the material on this site may be reproduced for distribution without prior
permission from the publisher.
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