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Chapter 2 Laws, Policies, and OSHA Standards Affecting Veterinary Practice 27

There are other procedures and policies that cover pre-
vention of bites and other animal‐related injuries, acci-
dental needlestick injuries, rabies pre‐exposure
vaccinations, and other environmental controls that
effect health and well‐being of the employees. Each prac-
tice differs in how they handle such occurrences.
Remember to ask for this information if it is not in the
policy and procedure manual.

Labeling

Another guideline from OSHA is the use of secondary
product labels. Many products used in the veterinary
practice come as a concentrate, in gallon bottles, or large
bottles of pills and solutions. This is referred to as the FIGURE 2.2 OSHA secondary label.
source bottle and it comes from the manufacturer with a
primary label. A secondary label is required when putting Personal Protection Equipment
a portion of the source bottle into another container.
For example, veterinary practices use gallons of isopropyl Veterinary medicine is a hazardous occupation, with dan-
alcohol on a weekly basis. To have it readily available it gers including bite wounds, scratches, and kicks, exposure
must be divided into spray or smaller bottles and then to zoonotic diseases and parasites, noxious chemicals,
dispersed around the clinic (Figure 2.2). Each of these and radiation, and also hurting yourself by the constant
bottles must have a secondary label attached to identify lifting and restraining of heavy animals. The employer is
what is in the bottle so it isn’t used inappropriately. responsible for ensuring a safe working environment, by
The secondary labels have adhesive on the back and implementing universal precautions. It is the employee’s
some have a clear plastic shield cover that is used to responsibility to behave in ways that enhance personal
protect the label once it is written. The colored squares safety as well as conform to all OSHA regulations.
on the label represent flammability, reactivity, health There are over 200 zoonotic diseases transmissible
hazards, and special hazards. Each square should be from animals to humans, with many of them life‐threat-
marked as to the level of flammability, reactivity, health ening. As there is no way of knowing what disease an
hazards, and special hazards. Each blank line should animal may be harboring, assume that every encounter
be filled in with chemical/strength, manufacturer, and with a patient poses the threat of a zoonotic infection.
date it was set up. All this information is found on the Part of the policies and procedures manual in the prac-
MSDS. Table 2.2 explains how each square is marked tice will have an Infection Control Plan that implements
on the OSHA secondary labels and what each color universal precautions. It will have instructions on how to
represents. prevent transmission of diseases and what PPE is required
for protecting the employees from becoming infected.
Universal precautions are measures taken whenever
there is the possible transmission of infection from a
patient or the patient’s body fluids to the handlers, the
Learning Discovery possibility of exposure to agents that can cause diseases,
or conditions that can become fatal to the handler.
• What is the role of the HCC in a practice? These precautions were adapted to veterinary medicine
• Which organization is concerned with keeping from human medicine and they deal with the potential
employees safe at work?
• Utilizing the internet find a MSDS for 70% for cross‐infection: person–person, animal–person,
person—animal, and animal–animal. These precautions
isopropyl alcohol: should always be kept in mind when dealing with bodily
◦ Where should this product be stored in a fluids and or infected patients. PPE and prudent
hospital?
◦ How should it be labeled if put into a behavior will minimize the risk of cross‐infection.
The following is a list of PPE that should be available
secondary container?
• What do the red, blue, yellow, and white sym- throughout the practice facility.
bols mean on a secondary container label?
• Utilize the internet to find an MSDS for Rescue Gloves
disinfectant spray. Fill in the secondary label in Exam gloves are usually made of latex. If the handler is
Figure 2.3 utilizing the MSDS. allergic to latex, a nitrile glove made from synthetic
rubber is a good alternative. Exam gloves must be worn