safety bulletin - AVMA PLIT
safety bulletin - AVMA PLIT
safety bulletin - AVMA PLIT
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<strong>AVMA</strong> <strong>PLIT</strong><br />
<strong>safety</strong> <strong>bulletin</strong><br />
Produced by: Hub International Midwest Limited<br />
Vol. 15 No. 3 SUMMER 2007<br />
Employee Injury Trends at Veterinary Practices<br />
The Hartford recently performed an in-depth loss analysis of<br />
more than 4,500 workers’ compensation claims at veterinary<br />
practices from 2002-2004 to identify employee injury<br />
trends. Workers’ compensation injuries were analyzed by the<br />
experience level of the employee, the type of animal, the<br />
animal action, and the body part injured.<br />
u Dogs represented 43% of the bites and 74% of the<br />
“jumped on” injuries.<br />
u Horses represented 100% of the injuries from kicks.<br />
Percentage of Workers’ Compensation Claims by Animal Type<br />
Analysis Results<br />
The analysis indicated that 50% of the workers’<br />
compensation claims were due to injuries from cats and 42%<br />
of the workers’ compensation claims were due to injuries<br />
from dogs. Injuries from horses and cattle had a lower<br />
frequency; however, the injuries were more likely to generate<br />
more lost work time and higher<br />
costs.<br />
u Nearly 90% of all workers’<br />
compensation injuries were due<br />
to bites with an average loss of<br />
$1,170.<br />
u Scratches accounted for 4.4%<br />
of the workers’ compensation<br />
injuries with an average loss<br />
of $802.<br />
u Although injuries from kicks<br />
accounted for only 0.3% of the<br />
injuries, the average loss due to<br />
kicks was $9,890.<br />
u 89% of the injuries occurred to<br />
the arms, hands, fingers, wrist,<br />
and face area.<br />
u Punctures and lacerations<br />
accounted for 84% of the injuries.<br />
u Cats accounted for 53% of the bites<br />
and 82% of the scratches.<br />
50%<br />
40%<br />
30%<br />
20%<br />
10%<br />
0%<br />
50%<br />
Feline<br />
u<br />
42%<br />
3% 1% 3%<br />
Canine Equine Bovine Other<br />
31% of the injuries occurred to employees with less<br />
than one year experience.<br />
u 42% of the injuries occurred to employees with<br />
between one and three years experience.<br />
u Technicians sustained 40% of the injuries.<br />
u Veterinarians sustained 20% of the injuries.<br />
u 20% of the injuries occurred “after hours”.<br />
How Can This Data Help Your<br />
Practice?<br />
Focus on Patient Handling and New<br />
Employee Orientation<br />
continued on back page
Employee Injury Trends continued<br />
Patient Handling and Restraint<br />
The data clearly documents that the leading causes of<br />
workers’ compensation injuries are bites from cats and dogs<br />
and kicks from horses. Employees need to understand the<br />
risks of patient handling and the proper type and amount of<br />
restraint. This is accomplished through frequent training for<br />
everyone, particularly employees with less than three years<br />
experience. The proper types of restraints should be readily<br />
available wherever they are needed such as in exam rooms,<br />
treatment areas, and kennels. Personal protective equipment<br />
such as gloves or arm guards should also be available and easily<br />
accessible.<br />
New Employee Orientation<br />
SAFETY MANUAL<br />
For more training materials,<br />
purchase the <strong>PLIT</strong> <strong>safety</strong><br />
manual, which includes<br />
quizzes, sign-off sheets, and<br />
sample programs. See the<br />
enclosed order form for more details or call 800-228-<br />
7548. Also visit www.avmaplit.com for the <strong>PLIT</strong> webbased<br />
training modules on hazard communication,<br />
animal restraint and bite prevention, lifting techniques,<br />
and slips, trips, and falls.<br />
The data also indicates that new employees tend to be<br />
injured on the job at a higher rate. Structure your new<br />
employee orientation so it provides new employees with<br />
<strong>safety</strong> information before they begin work as well as ongoing<br />
refresher training throughout their employment.<br />
Guidelines for Effective Safety Orientation:<br />
u Ensure that <strong>safety</strong> orientation is completed and<br />
documented for all employees prior to commencing work<br />
activities. Orientation should include a combination of<br />
compliance and risk-based topics, particularly patient<br />
handling and restraint techniques.<br />
u Teach specific, observable actions needed to prevent<br />
injuries when doing particular tasks such as “utilize the<br />
proper amount and type of restraining technique when<br />
handling patients” or “use proper lifting techniques when<br />
lifting all objects and patients” rather than giving general<br />
admonitions to “pay attention” or “be careful” when doing<br />
those tasks.<br />
u Follow up classroom training with careful on-the-job<br />
instruction and observation.<br />
In summary, the employees at your veterinary practice are<br />
exposed to the risk of injury from patient attacks. Although<br />
animal behavior can be unpredictable in the clinic, you<br />
can provide the tools and training for employees to protect<br />
themselves. Remember—the dominant causes of loss<br />
from 4,500 workers’ compensation claims at veterinary<br />
practices involved patient handling and newer employees.<br />
Structure <strong>safety</strong> and training at your practice to include<br />
frequent employee training sessions for patient handling<br />
and restraining, the types of restraints, and the use of proper<br />
personal protective equipment.<br />
Trust Broker and Consultant since 1962:<br />
Hub International Midwest Limited<br />
P.O. Box 1629<br />
Chicago, IL 60690-1629<br />
Phone 800-228-<strong>PLIT</strong> (7548)<br />
Fax 888-<strong>PLIT</strong>-FAX (754-8329)<br />
Fax-on-Demand 888-740-<strong>PLIT</strong><br />
Email info@avmaplit.com<br />
www.avmaplit.com<br />
Hub International Midwest Insurance Agency (CA)