 What types of hazards are presented to employees of a vet clinic?

 Working in a veterinary clinic can be rewarding yet the employees are exposed to several potential safety hazards. In order to avoid these hazards, they must first be identified.  Safety hazards in the veterinary workplace can be placed into five categories.

 Physical hazards may include the following: cuts from sharp instruments, being stepped on or kicked by large animals, bites or scratches from small animals, high noise levels, x-ray radiation, and others.

 Chemical hazards involve the exposure to drugs, pesticides, anesthesia, and others.  Special care should be taken when handling and administering chemicals.

 Biological hazards include exposure to vaccines, laboratory procedures, and medical wastes such as blood, needles, and syringes.

 Zoonotic infections are infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans. Examples include: rabies, tuberculosis, brucellosis, anthrax, ringworm, and others.

 Parasitic hazards involve the potential for parasites to transmit disease from animal to human. Flies, mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas can all transmit disease from animals to humans. Exposure to internal parasites such as the hookworm or roundworm can also be considered a parasitic hazard.