Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) compliance is not optional for equine veterinarians—it’s mandatory. Each violation could cost you dearly, as the fines levied per violation have increased dramatically. Despite these consequences, however, few veterinary practices are fully OSHA compliant.
Common OSHA Violations in Equine Practice
The 10 most common ways practices fail to comply are as follows:
- OSHA wants all employees to fully understand how to be safe around hazardous chemicals through the use of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). All containers, whether original or “workplace containers,” must have GHS labeling. Every time you pour a chemical, such as alcohol or peroxide, from a large bottle into a smaller bottle, you create a secondary or workplace container. Any chemical that is reconstituted or diluted, such as chlorhexidine, is also considered to be in a workplace container.
- Safety data sheets (SDS) must be available to employees for every substance present in a practice that could cause harm. These data sheets are widely available both as paper copies and electronically. You should have an SDS notebook and an electronic collection that’s easily accessible on the practice computer.
- Each practice should have a hazard communication plan and an annual safety training review, as well as training for all new employees. Employees should sign documents certifying they have been trained, understand risks, and know the proper use of hazardous chemicals and protective equipment. Other necessary documents required by OSHA are health records and emergency contact information for each employee. An OSHA 300 form is a yearly detailed summary log of reportable injuries that have occurred. By law, employers must post the 300A form in a conspicuous place, such as the break room, from Feb. 1 to April 30.
- OSHA mandates that any employee involved in taking radiographs wears a dosimeter badge and protective equipment, including a gown, leaded gloves, and a thyroid shield. The employer must post the radiation exposure report from the dosimeter company for all employees to examine.
- Protecting employees is the practice’s responsibility. This includes hearing protection; protection from zoonotic diseases such as rabies, MRSA, or Salmonella; and protection from toxic products like formalin or chemotherapeutic agents.
- OSHA requires employees to wear shoes that are completely enclosed and impermeable. This is to prevent stabs from sharp objects like needles and contamination from chemicals or feces and urine containing zoonotic agents. In addition, the practice must have an eyewash station near the area where employees are at the highest risk of getting chemicals in their eyes.
- Equine patients can be dangerous, and accidents happen. Practices must have an accident investigation plan in place, including forms to be filled out by the employer and signed by the affected employee naming any witnesses. If an employee dies at work, the employer must report the death to OSHA within eight hours.
- OSHA requires practices to have an evacuation plan in place for all facilities. The evacuation process should be rehearsed and documented at least annually.
- Food and drink should not be allowed in any area of the veterinary clinic except a designated break room. OSHA allows only closed drink containers with small openings, such as coffee cups with lids or covered bottles. Lab samples, medications, and diagnostic chemical reagents are not allowed to be kept in the same refrigerator as human food or drinks. This is one of the most common areas of noncompliance in veterinary practices.
- Signage is required in facilities to notify employees of specific health hazards, such as radiation, laser, and anesthetic gases. Other required signage includes clear marking of fire extinguishers and the eyewash station. Exits should be clearly marked. Areas with no windows should have battery-operated emergency lighting that illuminates automatically in the event of power loss. If you have a treatment facility, consider adding “employees only” signs for restricted areas to minimize clients’ risk of radiation exposure.
Final Thoughts
It is important to comply with OSHA requirements both to protect your employees from hazards and to increase the value of your equine practice by mitigating risk. The simplest way to drive compliance is by consulting an OSHA specialist.
Related Reading
- Starting Your Own Equine Practice
- Staying Ahead of the Curve: Navigating Legislation Affecting the Veterinary Profession
- Hiring Your First Staff Member at Your Equine Practice
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