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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)

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