Title: Identify the physical, chemical, biological, and zoonotic hazards associated with the veterinary industry.
Course: Veterinary Science I (18105-I) > Section: Understanding Safety, Sanitation, and Facility Maintenance

Identification should include

- common hazards to animal healthcare workers, including bites, scratches, back injuries, and the most common zoonotic risks as well as exposure to radiation, noise, allergens, and hazardous drug residues
- protective methods and procedures against these hazards, including proper lifting, handwashing, and glove application/removal as well as use of species‑appropriate restraint, eye protection, sharps safety, and ergonomic practices
- identification of hazardous materials and their potential dangers, including disinfectants, anesthetic gases, chemotherapy agents, and laboratory reagents
- all applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines and state‑specific veterinary workplace regulations.

Teacher Resources:

- "Youth@Work-Talking Safety Curriculum for Virginia," The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Veterinary Worker Safety and Health, NIOSH, CDC

- Compendium of Veterinary Standard Precautions for Zoonotic Disease Prevention in Veterinary Personnel, 2015, Veterinary Infection Control Committee (VICC), National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV)
- Healthy Pets, Healthy People, CDC
- Zoonotic Disease Factsheets, The Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Process/Skill Questions:

- What legal issues exist in educating clients about zoonotic diseases? What ethical issues are involved?
- Why must a person who may have been exposed to a zoonotic disease seek immediate medical attention?

- What types of hazardous materials are commonly encountered in veterinary work? How is each hazardous to workers?
- What are two zoonotic diseases that animal healthcare staff may be exposed to, and what are the symptoms of those in humans?  How is transmission of those two diseases prevented?