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Environmental Health

Right to Know LawRight to Know LawNot popular with most vets.Not popular with most vets.Enforcement is not routine. Usually Enforcement is not routine. Usually

enforcement is only done when a enforcement is only done when a report/complaint is made.report/complaint is made.

If a complaint is made, you need to If a complaint is made, you need to be in compliance.be in compliance.

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Environmental Health Legislation- Michigan Occupational Safety Legislation- Michigan Occupational Safety

and Health Law (1987)and Health Law (1987) This sets up a “communication standard” This sets up a “communication standard”

between the employer and the employee between the employer and the employee regarding hazardous chemicals in the workplace.regarding hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

Hazardous chemicals are those which can cause Hazardous chemicals are those which can cause acute or chronic illness or physical damage and acute or chronic illness or physical damage and include flammables, corrosives, carcinogens, include flammables, corrosives, carcinogens, compressed gases, etc. (but not biological compressed gases, etc. (but not biological organisms)organisms)

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Environmental Health

There are five things that a employer is required There are five things that a employer is required to do:to do:

1. All hazardous chemicals must have a 1. All hazardous chemicals must have a warning labelwarning label on them. on them.

2. Each chemical must have it own 2. Each chemical must have it own Material Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). This sheet includes This sheet includes the common names, manufacturer, symptoms the common names, manufacturer, symptoms of exposure, and first aid for each chemical.of exposure, and first aid for each chemical.

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Environmental Health

3. The employer must 3. The employer must train the employeestrain the employees on on the correct usage of the hazardous chemicals.the correct usage of the hazardous chemicals.

4. The employer must 4. The employer must hang two postershang two posters explaining where the MSDS sheets are located.explaining where the MSDS sheets are located.

5. There must be 5. There must be compliance documentedcompliance documented..

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Health Hazards in Veterinary Practice

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Radiation Hazards

These are very well documented and include:These are very well documented and include:

Dermal effects from acute exposureDermal effects from acute exposureNeoplasia from chronic skin exposureNeoplasia from chronic skin exposureCataracts from chronic exposureCataracts from chronic exposureLeukemia from chronic exposureLeukemia from chronic exposureBirth defects if fetus is exposed Birth defects if fetus is exposed

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Health Hazards in a Veterinary Practice

Radiation exposure in Veterinarians vs. Radiation exposure in Veterinarians vs. MD’sMD’s

Higher in vets because vets have:Higher in vets because vets have:

-More portable machines-More portable machines

-More restraint of patient needed-More restraint of patient needed

-Older machines (usually)-Older machines (usually)

-Larger animals – more energy-Larger animals – more energy

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Health Hazards in a Veterinary Practice Anesthetic Gas Hazards- this is a new concern Anesthetic Gas Hazards- this is a new concern

but can increase the risk for several diseases. but can increase the risk for several diseases. Immune suppression, abortion, birth defects, Immune suppression, abortion, birth defects,

cancer, pruritus, CNS problems, liver and cancer, pruritus, CNS problems, liver and kidney disease. kidney disease.

Prevention can involve:Prevention can involve: Low leakage systemsLow leakage systems Scavenging systemsScavenging systems Adequate ventilationAdequate ventilation Air monitoring programsAir monitoring programs

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Health Hazards in a Veterinary Practice

Drug and Health Hazards for Human Drug and Health Hazards for Human ReproductionReproduction Involve both sexes, but greater hazard for Involve both sexes, but greater hazard for

femalesfemales Toxins can cross the placenta and effect the Toxins can cross the placenta and effect the

fast growing cells of the fetus, which can not fast growing cells of the fetus, which can not detoxify or metabolize these chemicals as detoxify or metabolize these chemicals as well.well.

Toxins can also contaminate breast milk if Toxins can also contaminate breast milk if they are lipid solublethey are lipid soluble

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Health Hazards in a Veterinary Practice Drug and Health Hazards for Human Drug and Health Hazards for Human

ReproductionReproduction There are over 100,000 potentially toxic There are over 100,000 potentially toxic

substances substances 1,000 of those have reported teratogenic or 1,000 of those have reported teratogenic or

reproductive effectsreproductive effects There are about 3,000 mutagenic agents, There are about 3,000 mutagenic agents,

including:including:Ethylene oxideEthylene oxideFormaldehyde Formaldehyde • The “olden days”The “olden days”

Anticancer drugsAnticancer drugs

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Health Hazards in a Veterinary Practice Tips on the prevention of injury from hazardous Tips on the prevention of injury from hazardous

chemicalschemicals Limit exposureLimit exposure Gloves, masks, and protective clothingGloves, masks, and protective clothing

NOT surgical masks!NOT surgical masks! Finding non-toxic substitutesFinding non-toxic substitutes Treat all potentially hazardous chemicals with Treat all potentially hazardous chemicals with

respectrespect Limit employee’s exposure to potentially Limit employee’s exposure to potentially

hazardous chemicalshazardous chemicals

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Health Hazards in Veterinary Practice

Pesticide Hazards require the safe handling Pesticide Hazards require the safe handling of pesticidesof pesticides Pesticides are regulated by the EPAPesticides are regulated by the EPA Should be stored in their original container Should be stored in their original container

with their original labels and insertswith their original labels and insertsExtra-label use is not allowedExtra-label use is not allowed.. This This

includes mixing.includes mixing. Disposal must follow state law.Disposal must follow state law.

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Health Hazards in Veterinary Practice Pesticide hazards cont…Pesticide hazards cont…

Organophosphate and Carbamate Insecticides Organophosphate and Carbamate Insecticides can cause problems with the CNS by affecting can cause problems with the CNS by affecting Muscarinic and Nicotinic receptors.Muscarinic and Nicotinic receptors.

Prevention includes the use of protective Prevention includes the use of protective clothing, masks and glovesclothing, masks and gloves

Treatment after exposure may include:Treatment after exposure may include:Washing the effected area with soap and waterWashing the effected area with soap and waterAvoiding caustic detergentsAvoiding caustic detergentsTreatment with atropine and 2-PAMTreatment with atropine and 2-PAM

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MS Word File – Course Information and Policy

Did anyone download this Did anyone download this before the file went bad?before the file went bad?

If so, please e-mail me a copy.If so, please e-mail me a copy.

Thanks!Thanks!

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Health Hazards in Veterinary Practice Physical Hazards (trauma)Physical Hazards (trauma)

Animal bites, kicks, and scratchesAnimal bites, kicks, and scratches Excessive heat can cause lethargy, confusion, and Excessive heat can cause lethargy, confusion, and

unconsciousness.unconsciousness. Excessive cold which can cause confusion, Excessive cold which can cause confusion,

disorientation, pallor, and frostbite.disorientation, pallor, and frostbite. Vehicle accidents which can be attributed to:Vehicle accidents which can be attributed to:

Lots of miles on poor rural roadsLots of miles on poor rural roads““Emergency” calls at all hoursEmergency” calls at all hoursSize of the carSize of the car

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Physics Problem

Car (2,000 lbs) traveling at 80 ft/sec rear-Car (2,000 lbs) traveling at 80 ft/sec rear-ends a truck (16,000 lbs) going 10 ft/sec.ends a truck (16,000 lbs) going 10 ft/sec.

After collision, the car is going –20 ft/sec. After collision, the car is going –20 ft/sec. And the truck is going 22.5 ft/sec.And the truck is going 22.5 ft/sec.

Change in car speed (jolt factor) = 100 Change in car speed (jolt factor) = 100 ft/secft/sec

Change in truck speed = 12.5 ft/secChange in truck speed = 12.5 ft/sec

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Health Hazards in Veterinary Practice

Health considerations for the female veterinarianHealth considerations for the female veterinarian Physical hazardsPhysical hazards Radiation hazardsRadiation hazards Chemical hazardsChemical hazards Drug hazardsDrug hazards StressStress Biological hazardsBiological hazards

JAVMA articlesJAVMA articles

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Environmental Regulations and the Private Practitioner

Radiology Inspection - OSHA and State Radiology Inspection - OSHA and State Regulations.Regulations.

Anesthetic waste gases- OSHA regulations Anesthetic waste gases- OSHA regulations state they must be less then 2 ppm.state they must be less then 2 ppm.

Sterilization- ethylene oxide is heavily Sterilization- ethylene oxide is heavily regulated.regulated.

Formaldehyde- is also regulated.Formaldehyde- is also regulated. Noise - greater then 85db (kennels are usually Noise - greater then 85db (kennels are usually

95-115db) requires a hearing conservation 95-115db) requires a hearing conservation program.program.

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Environmental Regulations and the Private Practitioner

Animal Bathing and Dipping- this is Animal Bathing and Dipping- this is regulated by OSHA and the EPAregulated by OSHA and the EPA Pesticides- EPAPesticides- EPA Eye wash facilityEye wash facility Water-proof footwear Water-proof footwear Ventilation must be away from personVentilation must be away from person

Sharps and Medical Waste- regulated by Sharps and Medical Waste- regulated by the EPA and the statethe EPA and the state

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Environmental Regulations and the Private Practitioner

Animal handling-Animal handling- pre-exposure rabies immunization is pre-exposure rabies immunization is

important. 12 unvaccinated people exposed at important. 12 unvaccinated people exposed at a clinic can cost $18,000.a clinic can cost $18,000.

Fire- regulated by local government and Fire- regulated by local government and OSHAOSHA

Food and Beverages- regulated by OSHA Food and Beverages- regulated by OSHA must be free of toxic and biologically harmful must be free of toxic and biologically harmful

substances.substances.

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Environmental Regulations and the Private Practitioner

General Housekeeping- regulated by General Housekeeping- regulated by OSHAOSHA

First Aid- regulated by OSHAFirst Aid- regulated by OSHA

JAVMA 204:352-360JAVMA 204:352-360

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