Hazards to Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care Workers

Physical Injury Related to Animal Contact

A substantial number of injuries to veterinary medicine and animal care workers are caused by animal contact. Injuries may be caused by bites, scratches, kicks, or crush injuries from the animals themselves or strains, sprains, back injuries, or other repetitive motion injuries when lifting, restraining, or treating animals.

Most injuries from animal contact can be prevented by:

• Using proper animal handling techniques for the type of animal you are working with that incorporate an understanding of animal behavior.
  • Small animal resources are often available from veterinary organization websites such as the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association's Animal Handling and Restraint Resource document.
  • Food production animals and horse resources are available from NIOSH Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health and the National Ag Safety Database.
• Practicing proper lifting techniques such as those described in the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Veterinary Ergonomics Guidelines to prevent ergonomic and musculoskeletal disorders.
• Following bite and scratch prevention strategies such as those described in by Healthy Pets, Health People, CDC Traveler's Health, and veterinary resources such as the AVMA Dog Bite Prevention webpage.
  • Bite and scratch wounds should receive immediate medical evaluation and care due to risks of infection and rabies exposure.

Mental Health

Work stress can lead to poor physical and mental health. We know that veterinary professionals have an increased rate of suicide. Many of the factors related to work stress such as long working hours, poor work-life balance, compassion fatigue, and financial stress may occur in occupations throughout veterinary medicine and animal care. Monitoring your mental health wellness along with those of your co-workers is important. Employers can consider mental health and worker wellbeing in their workplace safety and health program.

The AVMA has a collection of wellbeing tools to support personal and professional wellbeing including how to support a culture of wellbeing and how to find help for yourself and others.

In addition, the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) Foundation maintains a list of resources related to emotional and psychological support on their VETS4VETS® webpage. VETS4VETS® is a confidential support service provided by the VIN Foundation that is available at no cost to veterinarians anywhere in the world.

Chemical Safety

Veterinary medicine and animal care workers are at risk of exposure to many different chemical hazards including:

• disinfectants
• hazardous drugs
• latex
• pesticides
• waste anesthetic gases.

Exposure to these chemicals may occur through skin contact or breathing them in. Splashes may result in chemical contact with the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes (such as the moist lining of the mouth or nose). Limiting or preventing exposure is key given the risk of weakened immune systems, development of allergies or asthma, and reproductive problems that could result from chemical exposures.

Chemicals used in veterinary and animal care are also found in other industries. CDC resources related to human healthcare that are relevant for veterinary medicine and animal care include disinfection and sterilization, control of smoke from laser or electrosurgical procedures, and occupational latex allergies.

Radiation Safety

Ionizing radiation is a known reproductive hazard. It has been linked to birth defects and other reproductive problems. Exposure to radiation can occur among workers using fixed location and portable x-ray machines, assisting with fluoroscopy, or caring for patients undergoing treatment with iodine-131 or other nuclear medicine radioactive materials. Risk of exposure during these procedures increases with the physical restraint of animals, use of older or poorly maintained equipment, and inadequate use of protective garments.

Zoonoses (Infections from Animals)

Veterinary medicine and animal care workers are at risk of exposure to zoonoses, infectious diseases that spread from animals to humans. Approximately 60% of the more than 1,400 human pathogens are zoonotic. About 75% of emerging pathogens are zoonotic.

An important concept in preventing illness and injury among veterinary services and animal care workers is One Health, a collaborative approach that recognizes that working at the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment is vital for achieving optimal health outcomes. This includes the work environment and the workers in it.

CDC has resources related to the prevention of zoonotic diseases including information on the Veterinary Safety and Health Hazard Prevention page and the CDC Healthy Pets, Healthy People page. The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) provides several resources related to infection control in different animal settings like veterinary hospitals and livestock shows.

Sharps Injuries

A needlestick injury can result in exposure to bloodborne pathogens and zoonotic diseases. Needlestick and sharps injuries can be prevented by following proper safety procedures when giving injections and disposing of medical waste.

Allergens

Veterinary medicine and animal care workers are exposed to animal proteins from hair/fur, saliva, urine, and dander. These are known allergens. NIOSH-led research in this area can be viewed in this Hazard Alert or on the NIOSH Asthma and Allergies page.

Noise

Barking dogs and machinery may generate noise above recommended levels in veterinary workplaces. NIOSH's Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention page and this case study can provide guidance in addressing these issues.

Outdoor Hazards

Workers who care for animals outdoors can be exposed to many hazards including extreme heat, extreme cold, sun exposure, and hazardous animals.

Motorized Vehicle Safety

Working long hours or having to travel long distances to treat patients can lead to fatigue. Fatigue is a major contributing factor to work-related motor vehicle crashes.

Disaster and Emergency Response

Veterinary workers are sometimes called to work with displaced domestic animals as the results of a natural disaster or other emergency. They could also work with displaced wild animals during disasters like oil spills and wildfires.

Resources

There are a number of NIOSH-authored publications and NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation reports related to veterinary medicine and animal worker health and safety. You can also find some NIOSH veterinary-related publications available in Spanish.