Safety & Sanitation 8.00 Objs.: Execute sanitation protocol of facilities & Implement aseptic technique to maintain equipment Pictures courtesy of Google Images

OSHA Occupational Health and Safety Administration Government agency housed in U.S Department of Labor Regulates and monitors employee safety in the workplace Guidelines to protect employees from injury – Hazard Communication Standard (HCS)

OSHA Manufacturers are required to label their chemicals clearly and apply warnings if the chemical is flammable, corrosive, or poisonous Must provide an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for every chemical

MSDS Must include the following 8 sections: Manufacturer Information Hazard Ingredients/Identity Information Physical/Chemical Characteristics Fire and Explosion Hazard Data Reactivity Data Health Hazard Data Precautions for Safe Handling and Use Control Measures

Types of Safety Hazards Physical Hazards Chemical Hazards Biological Hazards Zoonotic Hazards

Physical Hazards Physical injuries from animals are the most common type of injury in the vet hospital Frightened or nervous animals may: bite, kick, scratch Farm animals may be dangerous due to size Cats – needle-like teeth and sharp claws can harbor bacteria that may cause illness Back injuries from improper lifting Falls on wet floors Exposure to x-rays

Prevention of Physical Hazards Wearing proper clothing and footwear Learning animal behavior Correct handling and restraint techniques

Chemical Hazards Many hazardous chemicals are routinely used in a vet hospital: drugs, cleaning agents, insecticides, anesthetic gases Can damage skin, eyes, lungs Some chemicals may cause abortions and/or fetal abnormalities if absorbed in the bloodstream

Prevention of Chemical Hazards Knowing proper use for each substance and using safety measures Never use chemicals for other than their intended use Never mix chemicals together

Biological Hazards Include living tissue and organisms, blood, urine, live vaccines medical waste that has come in contact with living tissue such as: blood or urine soaked blankets, bandage materials, needles, scalpels Can spread disease from one animal to another or from animals to humans

Prevention of Biological Hazards All “sharps” must be disposed of in a red, sealed container called sharps container All sharps containers are labeled with biohazard symbol Medical wastes must be sterilized, incinerated, or chemically disinfected before they are disposed of Gloves and protective clothing should be worn when handling biohazards

Zoonotic Hazards Any disease that can be passed from animals to humans Viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi can cause zoonotic disease

Zoonotic Hazards Viral Diseases Bacterial Diseases Rabies Sleeping sickness (Encephalitis) Cat Scratch Fever Leptospirosis Salmonellosis Brucellosis Anthrax Tuberculosis

Zoonotic Hazards Parasitic Diseases Fungal Diseases Sarcoptic mange Toxoplasmosis Visceral Larva Migrans (Toxocariasis) Creeping Eruption (Ancylostomiasis) Ringworm

Prevention of Zoonotic Hazards Vaccination of animals and humans Proper waste disposal Isolation of infected animals Proper handling of infected animals Proper sanitation of hospital Hand washing Wearing protective clothing