Page 44 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

28 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

TABLE 2.2
Explanation of the OSHA Secondary Label
Color Hazard Score
0 – Will not burn
Flammability 1 – Ignites above 200°F
2 – Ignites below 200°F
Red
3 – Ignites below 100°F
4 – Ignites below 73°F
0 – Stable
Reactivity 1 – Normally stable
2 – Unstable
Yellow
3 – Explosive
4 – May detonate
0 – No hazard
Health hazards 1 – Slight hazard
2 – Dangerous
Blue
3 – Extreme danger
4 – Deadly
W – Water reactive
Special hazards Trefoil – Radioactive
Cor – Corrosive
White
ACD – Acid
ALK – Alkali

working in the laboratory. This prevents transmission of
diseases between patients and from patient waste to per-
Chemical - Strength
sonnel. Gloves are also changed between dirty and clean
tasks on the same patient. If a co‐worker or client is
injured and bleeding, gloves must be put on before
Manufacturer
attempting to help and while cleaning up.
Try a couple of sizes to see which fits best; they should
Date fit well without much excess length on the fingers and
stay in place, but not so tight that you lose circulation in
FIGURE 2.3 Empty secondary label. your fingers! Dirty gloves should be removed in a very
careful manner to avoid contaminating your skin. Start
to protect the hands from exposure or absorption of by removing the glove from your dominant hand by
chemicals and toxic agents as well as infectious pinching the outer surface of the glove about 2 inches
materials. below the cuff (Figure 2.4a). Pull the glove outward and
Gloves can develop microscopic holes while being downward, turning the glove inside out as you pull that
worn, allowing microorganisms or chemical agents to hand free of the glove (Figure 2.4b). Gather the removed
contact the skin. There is also the potential for disease‐ glove into the palm of the still gloved hand (Figure 2.4c).
causing organisms to contact the skin during the de‐glov- Slide your fingers under the cuff of the glove on the non‐
ing process despite the most careful efforts to avoid it. dominant hand and pinch the material. Then pull the
After taking the gloves off a thorough washing of the glove down and off, turning it inside out with the first
hands and forearms, with a good disinfectant soap, is glove enclosed inside the glove (Figure 2.4d). Dispose of
recommended. After washing hands, dry them thor- the gloves properly; don’t leave them lying around as
oughly and apply hand cream to prevent chapping and they can contaminate the area.
cracks. Intact skin is the best barrier to the entry of dis- Thorough handwashing follows, this entails moist-
ease into the body; therefore hand care is important for ening hands with water, applying soap, and rubbing the
disease prevention. If the used gloves are hazardous to hands together for a minimum of 20 seconds, including
humans, they should be disposed of in a biohazard con- wrists, between the fingers, and under the fingernails.
tainer or a trash bin that is lined with a biohazard bag. Rinse well and leave the water running while you get a
Gloves are changed whenever handling a new patient, paper towel to shut the water off. Discard that paper
when cleaning or handling bodily fluids, and while towel and get another to dry your hands, after which