Occupational health advice lacking in UK practices, study says

London

-- Animal bites, needle sticks, asthma, eczema and stress are just a few of the many hazards veterinary teams face on a daily basis, yet good occupational health advice is not made available to them in the United Kingdom, a new study shows.

Research shows that fewer than one-third of UK practices train staff in health and safety, and only 14 percent seek advice from occupational health professionals.

The study, published in the journal Society of Occupational Medicine, showed the biggest problems are dealing with workplace allergens, lifting animals, safe needle disposal and the need for good ventilation.

Practices reportedly did a good job addressing animal bites, the most common injury to veterinary team members, and dealing with asthma or eczema in employees.

The study recommends that practices in the United Kingdom need to follow the guidelines established by professional veterinary bodies and ensure they have a clear understanding of their health and safety duties.“Many veterinary surgeries are small businesses and therefore have difficulty accessing occupational health services, and innovative solutions are needed to address this,” says Dr. Tony Stevens, president of the Society of Occupational Medicine.

“For businesses like veterinary surgeries, occupational health should not be seen as an add-on but as an essential service. Employers, occupational health professionals, primary-care teams, benefits advisers and others associated with workplace well-being need to be able to work together to provide help to small businesses.”