Animal Health Solutions

Q2 2019 | Animal Health Solutions | 35 More at: northamerica.covetrus.com/publications About the author Karson L. Carpenter is an approved OSHA trainer currently serves as President and CEO of Compliance Training Partners. The company works exclusively with Covetrus to provide in-office training and compliance solutions for animal health facilities. Z oonoses are those diseases that may be directly or indirectly transmitted to humans from wild or domesticated animals. While names such as Leptospirosis, Lyme disease, MRSA, Toxoplasmosis, Giardiasis, and rabies are well known, there are approximately 1,400 diseases that may be categorized as zoonotic. As animal health workers, protecting yourselves and your team members from disease is of utmost importance. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is also concerned with protecting animal health employees. Under its General Duty Clause, veterinary workers must receive from their employers both training and the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to decrease the likelihood of contracting a zoonotic disease. Training should include an explanation of disease transmission. Employees should understand basic principles such as disease reservoir – where the organism survives and replicates, and host – offers the environment for maintenance of the disease- causing organism. They should be familiar with the types of transmission as well; direct transmission which requires close contact between the reservoir of disease and the potential host, and indirect transmission where intermediaries carry the agent of disease from one source to another. Other important training topics include: • A description of common zoonoses • Signs and symptoms of disease • The importance of handwashing before and after each patient as well as proper handwashing technique • Proper use of personal protective equipment including safety eyewear, masks, gloves, and long-sleeved fluid resistant clothing • Instrument handling and processing • Proper techniques for animal restraint and use of restraint devices • Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization protocols • Handling and disposal of regulated waste • Isolation protocol • Sharps safety • Immunization • Accident and injury response • Post-exposure protocol Protecting your animal health team from zoonotic disease Specific training for the prevention of zoonotic disease should be part of your employee's general safety training. Your Covetrus representative can assist you in these efforts by providing a detailed safety audit of your facility, required in-office training, and the products you need to achieve compliance.

• Cover