VETERINARY SAFETY AND HEALTH

NIOSH Publications and Other Resources

NIOSH Publications

NIOSH Workplace Solution: Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs for Veterinary Health Care Workers
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010-150 (2010)
En Español

An Overview of Safety and Health for Workers in the Horse-Racing Industry
NIOSH Publication No. 2009-128 (April 2009)
En Español

NIOSH Personal Protective Equipment for Health Care Workers Who Work with Hazardous Drugs
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2009-106 (2008)

NIOSH Exposure to Stress: Occupational Hazards in Hospitals
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2008-136 (July 2008)

NIOSH Waste Anesthetic Gases: Occupational Hazards in Hospitals
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-151 (September 2007)
En Español

NIOSH Workplace Solutions: Preventing Worker Deaths and Injuries When Handling Micotil 300®
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-124 (2007)

NIOSH Alert: Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-165 (2004)

NIOSH Glutaraldehyde: Occupational Hazards in Hospitals
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001-115 (May 2001)
En Español

NIOSH The Effects of Workplace Hazards on Female Reproductive Health
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 99-104 (February 1999)
En Español

NIOSH Hazard ID 5 – Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1 (B Virus) Infection Resulting from Ocular Exposure
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 99-100 (1999)

NIOSH Latex Allergy: A Prevention Guide
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 1998-113 (1998)

NIOSH Alert: Preventing Asthma in Animal Handlers
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 1997-116 (1998)

NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations

Air quality

HHE report: HETA-96-0052-2583, National Western Stock Show, Denver, Colorado pdf icon[PDF – 546 KB]

Chemical exposures

Carbon Monoxide

HHE report: HETA 2004-0123-2939, City of Liberal Animal Shelter, Liberal, Kansas pdf icon[PDF – 1 MB]

Chloramines

HHE report: HETA-2006-0153-3022, Sara Lee Foods, Storm Lake, Iowa pdf icon[PDF – 874 KB]

HHE report: HETA-2004-0337-3051, US Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Natchitoches, Louisiana pdf icon[PDF – 1 MB]

HHE report: HETA-2002-0257-2916, Bil-Mar Foods, Inc., Storm Lake, Iowa pdf icon[PDF – 405 KB]

Hazardous Drugs

HHE report: HETA 2010-0068-3156, Chemotherapy Drug Evaluation at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital – Michiganpdf icon

Peracetic acid

HHE report: HETA-2006-0298-3090, Kaleida Health-Buffalo General Hospital, Buffalo, New York pdf icon[PDF – 3.7 MB]

Pesticides

HHE report: HETA-2002-0203-3050, The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Laredo, Texas pdf icon[PDF – 1 MB]

HHE report: HETA-1983-0373-1501, Brown’s Bridge Animal Hospital, Gainesville, Georgia pdf icon[PDF – 226 KB]

Noise exposures

Health hazard evaluation (HHE) report: HETA-2007-0068-3042, Noise exposures and hearing loss assessments among animal shelter workers, Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Algiers, Louisiana pdf icon[PDF – 931 KB]

HHE report: HETA-2006-0222-3037, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Cincinnati, Ohio pdf icon[PDF – 846 KB]

HHE report: HETA-2006-0212-3035, Kenton County Animal Shelter, Covington, Kentucky pdf icon[PDF – 870 KB]

HHE report: HETA-2006-0196-3036, Liberty Veterinary Hospital, Liberty Township, Ohio pdf icon[PDF – 871 KB]

HHE report: HETA-2004-0046-2950, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa pdf icon[PDF – 1.2 MB]

Zoonoses

HHE report, HETA 2011-0058-3157, Campylobacter Infection and Exposures Among Employees at a Poultry Processing Plant – Virginiapdf icon

HHE report: HETA 2001-0273; 2001-0274; 2001-0275; 2001-0407-3091, Care of non-human primates, New Iberia, Louisiana; San Antonio, Texas; Davis, California; Covington, Louisiana pdf icon[PDF – 3.9 MB]

HHE report, HETA-98-0339-2806, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Riverdale, Maryland pdf icon[PDF – 227 KB]

HHE report: HETA 98-0061-2687, Yerkes Primate Research Center, Lawrenceville, Georgia pdf icon[PDF – 209 KB]

Additional HHEs

HHE report: HETA-92-080-2284, Moreno Valley Animal Control, Moreno Valley, California pdf icon[PDF – 151 KB]

HHE report: HETA-91-287-2228, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg Laboratory, Reynoldsburg, Ohio pdf icon[PDF – 436 KB]

NIOSH Other Related Topics

• Agriculture
• Agricultural Safety
• Dentistry
• Hazards to Outdoor Workers
• Healthcare Workers
• Safety and Health in the Horse Racing Industry

Other Resources

Selected Publications

Arif AA, Delclos GL [2012]. Association between cleaning-related chemicals and work-related asthma and asthma symptoms among healthcare professionals. Occup Environ Med 69(1):35-40.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21602538external icon

Asano K, Suzuki K, Nakamura Y, Asano R, Sakai T [2003]. Risk of acquiring zoonoses by the staff of companion-animal hospitals. Kansenshogaku Zasshi 77(11):944-947.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14672006external icon

Burstiner LC, Faires M, Weese JS [2010]. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in personnel attending a veterinary surgery conference. Vet Surg 39(2):150-157.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20210961external icon

Castrodale L, Bellay YM, Brown CM, Cantor FL, Gibbins JD, Headrick ML, Leslie MJ, MacMahon K, O’Quin JM, Patronek GJ, Silva RA, Wright JC, Yu DT [2010]. General public health considerations for responding to animal hoarding cases. J Environ Health 72(7):14-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20235404external icon

Cohen JI, Davenport DS, Stewart JA, Deitchman S, Hilliard JK, Chapman LE [2002]. Recommendations for prevention of and therapy for exposure to B virus (cercopithecine herpesvirus 1). Clin Infect Dis 35(10):1191-1203.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12410479external icon

D’Souza E, Barraclough R, Fishwick D, Curran A [2009]. Management of occupational health risks in small-animal veterinary practices. Occup Med (Lond) 59(5):316-322.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18974072external icon

Drobatz KJ, Smith G [2003]. Evaluation of risk factors for bite wounds inflicted on caregivers by dogs and cats in a veterinary teaching hospital. J Am Vet Med Assoc 223(3):312-316.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12906224external icon

Elchos BL, Scheftel JM, Cherry B, DeBess EE, Hopkins SG, Levine JF, Williams CJ [2008]. Compendium of veterinary standard precautions for zoonotic disease prevention in veterinary personnel. J Am Vet Med Assoc 233(3):415-432.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18673027external icon

Fritschi L [2000]. Cancer in veterinarians. Occup Environ Med 57(5):289-297.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10769295external icon

Fritschi L, Day L, Shirangi A, Robertson I, Lucas M, Vizard A [2006]. Injury in Australian veterinarians. Occup Med (Lond) 56(3):199-203.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16492680external icon

Fritschi L, Morrison D, Shirangi A, Day L [2009]. Psychological well-being of Australian veterinarians. Aust Vet J 87(3):76-81.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19245615external icon

Fritschi L, Shirangi A, Robertson ID, Day LM [2008]. Trends in exposure of veterinarians to physical and chemical hazards and use of protection practices. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 81(3):371-378.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17643262external icon

Gabel CL, Gerberich SG [2002]. Risk factors for injury among veterinarians. Epidemiology 13(1):80-86.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11805590external icon

Glickman LT [1992]. Implications of the human/animal bond for human health and veterinary practice. J Am Vet Med Assoc 201(6):848-851.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1399790external icon

Hill DJ, Langley RL, Morrow WM [1998]. Occupational injuries and illnesses reported by zoo veterinarians in the United States. J Zoo Wildl Med 29(4):371-385.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10065844external icon

Holzbauer SM, DeVries AS, Sejvar JJ, Lees CH, Adjemian J, McQuiston JH, Medus C, Lexau CA, Harris JR, Recuenco SE, Belay ED, Howell JF, Buss BF, Hornig M, Gibbins JD, Brueck SE, Smith KE, Danila RN, Lipkin WI, Cachance DH, Dyck PJ, Lynfield R [2010]. Epidemiologic investigation of immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy among abattoir workers exposed to porcine brain. PLoS One 5(3):e9782
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20333310external icon

Hunt TD, Ziccardi MH, Gulland FM, Yochem PK, Hird DW, Rowles T, Mazet JA [2008]. Health risks for marine mammal workers. Dis Aquat Organ 81(1):81-92.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18828566external icon

Jeyaretnam J, Jones H [2000]. Physical, chemical and biological hazards in veterinary practice. Aust Vet J 78(11):751-758.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11194720external icon

Jeyaretnam J, Jones H, Phillips M [2000]. Disease and injury among veterinarians. Aust Vet J 78(9):625-629.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11022291external icon

Johnson-Delaney CA [2005]. Safety issues in the exotic pet practice. Vet Clin Exot Anim 8:515-524.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16129358external icon

Kahn LH [2006]. Confronting zoonoses, linking human and veterinary medicine. Emerg Infect Dis 12(4).
http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1204.050956external icon

King BS, Page EH, Mueller CA, Dollberg DD, Gomez KE, Warren AM [2006]. Eye and respiratory symptoms in poultry processing workers exposed to chlorine by-products. Am J Ind Med 49(2):119-26.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16419092external icon

Korczynski RE [1999]. Anesthetic gas exposure in veterinary clinics. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 14(6):384-390.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10429733external icon

Landercasper J, Cogbill TH, Strutt PJ, Landercasper BO [1988]. Trauma and the veterinarian. J Trauma 28(8):1255-1259.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3411647external icon

Langley R [1999]. Physical hazards of animal handlers. Occup Med 14(2):181-194.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10329900external icon

Lucas M, Day L, Shirangi A, Fritschi L [2009]. Significant injuries in Australian veterinarians and use of safety precautions. Occup Med (Lond). 59(5):327-333
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19468101external icon

Lucas M, Day L, Fritschi L [2009]. Injuries to Australian veterinarians working with horses. Vet Rec 164(7):207-209.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19218591external icon

MacMahon K, Delaney L, Kullman G, Gibbins J, Decker J, Keifer M [2008]. Protecting poultry workers from exposure to avian influenza viruses. Public Health Reports 123:316-322.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19006973external icon

Michalak K, Austin C, Diesel S, Maichle Bacon J, Zimmerman P, Maslow J [1998]. Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a zoonotic disease: transmission between humans and elephants. Emerg Infect Dis 4(2).
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/4/2/98-0217_article.htm

Moore RM, Jr., Davis YM, Kaczmarek RG [1993]. An overview of occupational hazards among veterinarians, with particular reference to pregnant women. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 54(3):113-120.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8447254external icon

Murphree R, Warkentin JV, Dunn JR, Schaffner W, Jones TF [2011]. Elephant-to-human transmission of tuberculosis, 2009. Emerg Infect Dis 17(3).
https://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/3/366.htm

Nienhaus A, Skudlik C, Seidler A [2005]. Work-related accidents and occupational diseases in veterinarians and their staff. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 78(3):230-238.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15776262external icon

Ruby DL, Buchan RM, Gunter BJ [1980]. Waste anesthetic gas and vapor exposures in veterinary hospitals and clinics. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 41(3):229-231.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7395736external icon

Scheftel JM, Elchos BL, Cherry B, DeBess EE, Hopkins SG, Levine JF, Williams CJ, Bell MR, Dvorak GD, Funk RH, Just SD, Samples OM, Schaefer EC, Silvia CA [2010]. Compendium of veterinary standard precautions for zoonotic disease prevention in veterinary personnel: National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Veterinary Infection Control Committee 2010. J Am Vet Med Assoc 237(12):1403-1422.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21155680external icon

Scuffham AM, Firth EC, Stevenson MA, Legg SJ [2010]. Tasks considered by veterinarians to cause them musculoskeletal discomfort, and suggested solutions. N Z Vet J 58(1):37-44.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20200574external icon

Sheldon T [2003]. Vet dies from pneumonia in avian flu case. BMJ 326(7396):952.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12727760external icon

Shirangi A, Fritschi L, Holman CD, Bower C [2009]. Birth defects in offspring of female veterinarians. J Occup Environ Med 51(5):525-533.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19369893external icon

Shirangi A, Fritschi L, Holman CD [2008]. Maternal occupational exposures and risk of spontaneous abortion in veterinary practice. Occup Environ Med 65(11):719-725.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18388114external icon

Steele LL, Wilkins JR, 3rd [1996]. Occupational exposures and risks of spontaneous abortion among female veterinarians. Int J Occup Environ Health 2(1):26-36.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9933862external icon

Talan DA, Citron DM, Abrahamian FM, Moran GJ, Goldstein EJ [1999]. Bacteriologic analysis of infected dog and cat bites. Emergency Medicine Animal Bite Infection Study Group. N Engl J Med 340(2):85-92.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9887159external icon

Taylor LH, Latham SM, Woolhouse ME [2001]. Risk factors for human disease emergence. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 356(1411):983-989.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11516376external icon

van Soest EM, Fritschi L [2004]. Occupational health risks in veterinary nursing: an exploratory study. Aust Vet J 82(6):346-350.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15267093external icon

Weese JS, Jack DC [2008]. Needlestick injuries in veterinary medicine. Can Vet J 49(8):780-784.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18978971external icon

Weese JS, Faires M [2009]. A survey of needle handling practices and needlestick injuries in veterinary technicians. Can Vet J 50(12):1278-1282.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20190978external icon

Wiggins P, Schenker MB, Green R, Samuels S [1989]. Prevalence of hazardous exposures in veterinary practice. Am J Ind Med 16(1):55-66.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2750751external icon

Wilkins MJ, Bartlett PC, Judge LJ, Erskine RJ, Boulton ML, Kaneene JB [2009]. Veterinarian injuries associated with bovine TB testing livestock in Michigan, 2001. Prev Vet Med 89(3-4):185-190.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19303154external icon

Wilkins JR, 3rd, Bowman ME [1997]. Needlestick injuries among female veterinarians: frequency, syringe contents and side-effects. Occup Med (Lond) 47(8):451-457.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9604476external icon

Wright JG, Jung S, Holman RC, Marano NN, McQuiston JH [2008]. Infection control practices and zoonotic disease risks among veterinarians in the United States. J Am Vet Med Assoc 232(12):1863-1872.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18598158external icon

For More Information

• National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV)external icon
• American Veterinary Medical Assocation (AVMA)external icon
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)external icon
• World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)external icon
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)external icon
• World Health Organization (WHO)external icon
• Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC)external icon