Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Veterinary Medical Applications I
Vocabulary
Using the wordle, on the next slide, complete the crossword puzzle. Then, write each term and its definition
on your own notebook paper. This list will serve as a resource when studying for the upcoming exam.
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
OSHA
Introduction
• Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other members of the staff work with animals that may be dangerous, but also many other hazards are possible
• Being educated on many of the risks involved in this field can help prevent injury to the employee, patient, and client
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
• Occupational Safety & Health Administration• Created by Congress in 1970 from the
Occupational Safety & Health Act• In order to “assure safe and healthful working
conditions for working men and women”• Government agency housed in the U.S.
Department of Labor, regulates & monitors employee safety in the workplace
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
HCS
• To protect employees, OSHA created a set of guidelines: Hazard Communication (HCS)
• Compliance is mandatory in every business, in every state,
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
• HCS is based upon the principle that employees have the “Right to Know” when they are in a situation that could be a health hazard
• HCS places responsibility on the companies that manufacture hazardous materials and on the employer
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Chemicals
• Manufacturers are required to label chemicals if they are flammable, corrosive, or poisonous
• A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) must be provided for every chemical
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Employee Training
• Employers must devise a written training program
• Must educate on hazards of specific chemicals, use of protective clothing, and how to use the MSDS.
• All businesses are required to comply with OSHA safety standards and laws and are subject to large fines if they fail to comply.
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
MSDS
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• MSDS must contain the following 8 sections:– Manufacturer Information– Hazard Ingredients / Identity Information– Physical / Chemical Characteristics– Fire & Explosion Hazard Data– Reactivity Data– Health Hazard Data– Precautions for Safe Handling & Use– Control Measures
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
4 Hazards Associated with Veterinary Clinics
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Physical Hazards
• Physical injuries from animals are the most common type of injury in the vet hospital
• Frightened or nervous animals may bite, kick, or scratch when being handled
• Farm animal’s size poses an even more dangerous threat
• Cats present a specific hazard– Needle-like teeth and sharp claws harbor bacteria that can
cause serious illness in humans
• Back injuries, falls on wet floors, exposure to x-rays
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Methods of Preventing Physical Hazards
• Proper clothing and footwear should always be worn when working with animals
• Learning animal behavior and correct handling/restraint techniques can help prevent injury
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Chemical Hazards
• Drugs, cleaning agents, insecticides, anesthetic gases– Can cause:• damage to skin, eyes, and lungs if inhaled.• abortion and or fetal abnormalities.
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Methods of Preventing Chemical Hazards
• Proper use & safety measures is the best way to protect
• Never use chemicals beyond their intended use• Never mix chemicals
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Biological Hazards
• Living tissue & organisms, blood, urine, live vaccines• Any medical waste that has come in contact with:
• blood or urine soaked blankets• bandage materials & sharps
• Spreads disease from one animal to another or from animals to humans (zoonotic)
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Methods of Preventing Biological Hazards
• The federal Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988 regulates the disposal of medical wastes and biohazards
• The EPA determines what regulations must be followed when disposing biohazards– All sharps must be disposed of in red, sealed containers– All sharps containers labeled with biohazard symbol– Medical wastes must be sterilized, incinerated, or
chemically disinfected before disposal.– Gloves & protective clothing must be worn.
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Zoonotic Hazards
• Any disease that can be passed from animals to humans.
• 4 Examples– Viral Diseases (Rabies)– Bacterial (Cat Scratch Fever, Brucellosis, Anthrax,
Tuberculosis)– Parasitic (Sarcoptic mange)– Fungal (Ringworm)
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Methods of Preventing Zoonotic Hazards
• Vaccination of animals and humans• Proper waste disposal• Isolating & proper handling of infected
animals• Proper sanitation of hospital • Hand washing• Wearing protective clothing
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Safety Signs & Equipment
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
OSHA Requirement
• Businesses must use specific safety signs and equipment to alert employees and clients of possible hazards and dangers
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Danger Sign
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Radioactive Sign
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Biohazard Sign
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Wet Floor Sign
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Equipment: Lead Gloves
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Equipment: Lead Apron
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Equipment: Back brace
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Equipment: Dosimeter
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Drug Schedules
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Drug Schedules
• The US Controlled Substances Act (Title 21 United States Code, Subchapter I, Part B Section 812), regulates the availability of drugs in the US, whether they can be prescribed, and to what extent. Drugs are classified into one of five schedules. The most restrictive schedule is Schedule I.
• Began October 27, 1970, and updated and republished on an annual basis thereafter.
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Schedule I
• The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse
• The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States
• There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Examples of Schedule I Drugs
• Hallucinogenic drugs, ecstasy and cannabis, which have virtually no therapeutic use
• Production, possession and supply of these drugs is limited in the public interest and veterinary surgeons have no authority to possess these drugs
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Schedule II
• The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse
• The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions
• Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Examples of Schedule II Drugs
• Morphine, pethidine, fentanyl, alfentanil, methadone, the amphetamines and secobarbital.
• Drugs are subject to safe custody requirements and should be stored in a suitable locked cabinet secured to the fabric of the building at all times.
• Receipt and supply must be recorded in a Controlled Drugs Register.
• Must not be destroyed, except in the presence of a person authorized by the Secretary of State.
• Written prescriptions are valid for 28 days.• Repeat prescriptions are not permitted.• Prescriptions cannot be faxed or sent electronically.
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Schedule III
• The drug or other substance has a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II
• The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States
• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Examples of Schedule III Drugs
• Buprenorphine, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, midazolam and some minor stimulants, including benzphetamine.
• These drugs are subject to safe custody requirements but do not have to be recorded in the Controlled Drugs Register.
• Written prescriptions are valid for 28 days.• Repeat prescriptions are not permitted.• Prescriptions cannot be faxed or sent
electronically.Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Schedule IV Drugs
• The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III
• The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States
• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Examples of Schedule IV Drugs
• Split into two parts: part I includes benzodiazepines and ketamine; part II contains anabolic and androgenic steroids
• They are not subject to safe custody requirements. However, as ketamine is a substance of abuse, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) recommends that it is stored in the Controlled Drugs cabinet and its use recorded in an informal Register
• Written prescriptions are valid for 28 daysUnit I: Safety & Sanitation
Schedule V
• The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV
• The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States
• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Examples of Schedule V Drugs
• Preparations of certain Controlled Drugs, such as codeine and morphine, which are exempt from full control when present in medicinal products of low strength
• They are exempt from all Controlled Drug requirements, other than the requirement to keep invoices for 5 years
• Prescription valid for 6 months
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Sanitation
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Types of Sanitation
• Cleaning –physically removing all visible signs of dirt and organic matter such as feces, blood, hair, etc
• Disinfecting –destroying most microorganisms on nonliving things by physical or chemical means
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Types of Sanitation
• Sterilizing – destroying ALL microorganisms and viruses on an object using chemicals and/or heat under pressure
• Antiseptics – solutions that destroy microorganisms or inhibit their growth on living tissue
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation
Commonly Used Chemicals
• Alcohols – ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol
• Aldehydes – gluteraldehyde, formaldehyde
• Chlorine – bleach
• Iodine and Iodophors – Betadine, iodine
• Quaternary ammonias – Centrimide, Quatsyl-D
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Methods of Sanitation
• Physical cleaning – using a chemical with a mop or sponge
• Cold sterilization – soaking items in a disinfectant chemical until they are used
• Dry heat – incinerating an object or exposing it to flame
• Radiation – using ultraviolet or gamma rays
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Methods of Sanitation
• Filtration – removing particles from the air using a physical barrier
• Ultrasound – passing high frequency sound waves through a solution to create a vibration that scrubs an object to remove debris
• Autoclave – a sealed chamber in which objects are exposed to heat and steam under pressure
Unit I: Safety & Sanitation