TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Survey of occupational hazards in Minnesota veterinary practices in 2012
JO  - Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
A1  - Fowler, Heather N.
A1  - Holzbauer, Stacy M.
A1  - Smith, Kirk E.
A1  - Scheftel, Joni M.
SP  - 207
EP  - 218
VL  - 248
IS  - 2
N2  - OBJECTIVE To identify the scope of occupational hazards encountered by veterinary personnel and compare hazard exposures between veterinarians and technicians working in small and large animal practices. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. POPULATION Licensed veterinarians and veterinary staff in Minnesota. PROCEDURES A survey of Minnesota veterinary personnel was conducted between February 1 and December 1, 2012. Adult veterinary personnel working in clinical practice for > 12 months were eligible to participate. Information was collected on various workplace hazards as well as on workplace safety culture. <br><br>RESULTS 831 eligible people responded, representing approximately 10% of Minnesota veterinary personnel. A greater proportion of veterinarians (93%; 368/394) reported having received preexposure rabies vaccinations than did veterinary technicians (54%; 198/365). During their career, 226 (27%) respondents had acquired at least 1 zoonotic infection and 636 (77%) had been injured by a needle or other sharps. Recapping of needles was reported by 87% of respondents; the most common reason reported by veterinarians (41%; 142/345) and veterinary technicians (71%; 238/333) was being trained to do so at school or work. Recent feelings of depression were reported by 204 (25%) respondents. A greater proportion of technicians (42%; 155/365) than veterinarians (21%; 81/394) indicated working in an environment in which employees experienced some form of workplace abuse. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Veterinary personnel in Minnesota were exposed to several work-related hazards. Practice staff should assess workplace hazards, implement controls, and incorporate instruction on occupational health into employee training.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0003-1488
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/javma.248.2.207
ID  - ref1
ER  -