Transcript Environmental Health

Environmental Health
 Right
to Know Law
Not popular with most vets.
 Enforcement is not routine. Usually
enforcement is only done when a
report/complaint is made.
 If a complaint is made, you need to
be in compliance.

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Environmental Health
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Legislation- Michigan Occupational Safety
and Health Law (1987)
 This sets up a “communication standard”
between the employer and the employee
regarding hazardous chemicals in the
workplace.
 Hazardous chemicals are those which can
cause acute or chronic illness or physical
damage and include flammables, corrosives,
carcinogens, compressed gases, etc. (but not
biological organisms)
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Environmental Health
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There are five things that a employer is
required to do:
1. All hazardous chemicals must have a
warning label on them.
2. Each chemical must have it own
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
This sheet includes the common names,
manufacturer, symptoms of exposure,
and first aid for each chemical.
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Environmental Health
3. The employer must train the employees
on the correct usage of the hazardous
chemicals.
4. The employer must hang two posters
explaining where the MSDS sheets are
located.
5. There must be compliance documented.
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Health Hazards in Veterinary Practice
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Radiation Hazards
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These are very well documented and
include:
Dermal effects from acute exposure
 Neoplasia from chronic skin exposure
 Cataracts from chronic exposure
 Leukemia from chronic exposure
 Birth defects if fetus is exposed
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Health Hazards in a
Practice
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Veterina
Radiation exposure in Veterinarians vs.
MD’s
Higher in vets because vets have:
-More portable machines
-More restraint of patient needed
-Older machines (usually)
-Larger animals – more energy
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Health Hazards in a Veterinary Practice
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Anesthetic Gas Hazards- this is a new
concern but can increase the risk for
several diseases.
Immune suppression, abortion, birth
defects, cancer, pruritus, CNS problems,
liver and kidney disease.
Prevention can involve:
Low leakage systems
 Scavenging systems
 Adequate ventilation
 Air monitoring programs
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Health Hazards in a Veterinary Practice
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Drug and Health Hazards for Human
Reproduction
 Involve both sexes, but greater hazard
for females
 Toxins can cross the placenta and effect
the fast growing cells of the fetus,
which can not detoxify or metabolize
these chemicals as well.
 Toxins can also contaminate breast
milk if they are lipid soluble
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Health Hazards in a Veterinary Practice
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Drug and Health Hazards for Human
Reproduction
 There are over 100,000 potentially toxic
substances
 1,000 of those have reported teratogenic or
reproductive effects
 There are about 3,000 mutagenic agents,
including:
Ethylene oxide
 Formaldehyde
• The “olden days”
 Anticancer drugs
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Health Hazards in a Veterinary Practice
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Tips on the prevention of injury from
hazardous chemicals
 Limit exposure
 Gloves, masks, and protective clothing
 NOT surgical masks!
 Finding non-toxic substitutes
 Treat all potentially hazardous
chemicals with respect
 Limit employee’s exposure to
potentially hazardous chemicals
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Health Hazards in Veterinary Practice
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Pesticide Hazards require the safe
handling of pesticides
 Pesticides are regulated by the EPA
 Should be stored in their original
container with their original labels and
inserts
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Extra-label use is not allowed. This
includes mixing.
 Disposal must follow state law.
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Health Hazards in Veterinary Practice
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Pesticide hazards cont…
 Organophosphate and Carbamate
Insecticides can cause problems with the
CNS by affecting Muscarinic and Nicotinic
receptors.
 Prevention includes the use of protective
clothing, masks and gloves
 Treatment after exposure may include:
Washing the effected area with soap and water
 Avoiding caustic detergents
 Treatment with atropine and 2-PAM
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MS Word File – Course
Information and Policy
 Did
anyone download this
before the file went bad?
 If so, please e-mail me a copy.
Thanks!
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Health Hazards in Veterinary Practice
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Physical Hazards (trauma)
 Animal bites, kicks, and scratches
 Excessive heat can cause lethargy,
confusion, and unconsciousness.
 Excessive cold which can cause confusion,
disorientation, pallor, and frostbite.
 Vehicle accidents which can be attributed
to:
Lots of miles on poor rural roads
 “Emergency” calls at all hours
 Size of the car
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Physics Problem
Car (2,000 lbs) traveling at 80 ft/sec rearends a truck (16,000 lbs) going 10 ft/sec.
 After collision, the car is going –20 ft/sec.
And the truck is going 22.5 ft/sec.
 Change in car speed (jolt factor) = 100
ft/sec
 Change in truck speed = 12.5 ft/sec
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Health Hazards in Veterinary Practice
Health considerations for the female
veterinarian
 Physical hazards
 Radiation hazards
 Chemical hazards
 Drug hazards
 Stress
 Biological hazards
 JAVMA articles
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Environmental Regulations and
the Private Practitioner
Radiology Inspection - OSHA and State
Regulations.
 Anesthetic waste gases- OSHA
regulations state they must be less then
2 ppm.
 Sterilization- ethylene oxide is heavily
regulated.
 Formaldehyde- is also regulated.
 Noise - greater then 85db (kennels are
usually 95-115db) requires a hearing
conservation program.
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Environmental Regulations and
the Private Practitioner
Animal Bathing and Dipping- this is
regulated by OSHA and the EPA
 Pesticides- EPA
 Eye wash facility
 Water-proof footwear
 Ventilation must be away from person
 Sharps and Medical Waste- regulated by
the EPA and the state
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Environmental Regulations and
the Private Practitioner
Animal handling pre-exposure rabies immunization is
important. 12 unvaccinated people
exposed at a clinic can cost $18,000.
 Fire- regulated by local government and
OSHA
 Food and Beverages- regulated by OSHA
 must be free of toxic and biologically
harmful substances.
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Environmental Regulations and
the Private Practitioner
General Housekeeping- regulated by
OSHA
 First Aid- regulated by OSHA
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JAVMA 204:352-360
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