A Survey of Personal and Occupational Health and Safety Training for US and Canadian Veterinary Schools

ABSTRACT

To determine the health and safety training provided to veterinary students, ascertain their injuries, and evaluate the vaccinations they received we surveyed the 28 veterinary schools in the United States and Canada. Eighteen (64%) of the schools responded. It appears that veterinary schools could better train their students considering the number of injuries and illnesses reported in the previous two years as a direct result of working in the health care setting. For example, 14 schools reported 1-12 bites/maulings, 14 reported 1-5 kicks/gorings, 11 reported 2-27 scratches, and 11 schools reported 1-5 scalpel/knife cuts. In addition, some, students training for food animal practice are poorly prepared to work in confinement housing as only 39% (7/18) of schools train students in how to choose and wear a breathing mask and only 11% (2/18) train students in how to choose and wear ear protection. In contrast, 14 (78%) respondents agreed with the statement that, in general, most of their veterinary students are adequately prepared to work safely. In general, to increase the training and assistance offered to students, schools should: develop a uniform curriculum for occupational health and safety, provide a mechanism for reporting injuries and illnesses, implement policies on (1) vaccinations, (2) physical examinations, (3) restrictions for pregnant students and (4) serum banking, provide training in basic first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, and information of the risk that pets pose to people with immunocompro-mising disorders.

Key Words:

• Occupational risks for veterinary students
• curriculum for veterinarians
• survey of veterinary schools
• recommendations for veterinary students