VETERINARY SAFETY AND HEALTH

Chemical Safety

Veterinary medicine and animal care workers are at risk of exposure to many different chemical hazards including glutaraldehyde and other disinfectants, hazardous drugs, latex , pesticides, and waste anesthetic gases. Exposure to these chemicals may occur by dermal contact (touching the skin) and/or inhalation (being breathed in). Splashes may result in chemical contact with the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.

Cleaning Chemicals

Follow manufacturer’s instructions and all product label precautions.
Do not mix different cleaning products; some mixtures produce toxic gases.

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services: Common Cleaning Products May Be Dangerous When Mixed

Disinfectants

CDC Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008

Iowa State University Center for Food Security and Public Health: Disinfection

Iowa State University Center for Food Security and Public Health: Veterinarians: Disinfectant Resources

Some examples:

Ethylene oxide
NIOSH Ethylene Oxide
Glutaraldehyde
NIOSH Glutaraldehyde

NIOSH Glutaraldehyde: Occupational Hazards in Hospitals
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001-115
En Español

OSHA Best Practices for the Safe Use of Glutaraldehyde in Health Care (2006) [PDF - 261 KB]
Formaldehyde
NIOSH Formaldehyde
Peracetic acid
CDC Disinfection and Sterilization Guideline: Peracetic Acid Sterilization

Hazardous Drugs

Some examples:

Antineoplastic and other hazardous drug exposures may occur when treating animals for cancer and other diseases.
Hormones may be a reproductive hazard to female veterinarians.
- Follow product labels for handling restrictions and proper precautions.
Micotil 300^®, an injectable macrolide antibiotic, may cause illness or death in people who are exposed through needlestick injuries, skin cuts, puncture wounds, or contact with skin or mucous membranes.
Chloramphenicol is banned for large animal use due to the risk of aplastic anemia in humans but is still used in small animals.

NIOSH Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic Agents

NIOSH Hazardous Drug Exposures in Healthcare

AVMA: Best Management Practices for Pharmaceutical Disposal

AVMA: Veterinary Facility Occupational Risks for Pregnant Workers

NIOSH Workplace Solution: Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs for Veterinary Health Care Workers
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010-150 (2010)
En Español

NIOSH Personal Protective Equipment for Health Care Workers Who Work with Hazardous Drugs
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2009-106 (2008)

NIOSH Workplace Solutions: Preventing Worker Deaths and Injuries When Handling Micotil 300®
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-124 (2007)