Veterinary OSHA Findings

Most inspections in the veterinary industry stem from employee or customer complaints. However, the number of unplanned inspections have continued to increase over the past four years. Consider checking for these 10 common OSHA violations to ensure an inspection at your facility will start smoothly.

By addressing the items below, an inspector will know that you prioritize maintaining a compliant organization, which will set the tone for the rest of the inspection.

1. Fire Extinguisher and Eye Wash Stations

• Make sure emergency equipment is inspected per the required schedule, tagged appropriately, and properly placed for accessibility.

2. Food and Drink Practices

• Keep food and beverages out of clinical or laboratory areas; designate a break room for refreshments.
• Properly label refrigerators and keep food segregated from chemical and pharmaceutical storage locations.

3. OSHA Required Signage

• Utilize the required OSHA 300 forms and post the OSHA 300A summary from February to April each year.
• Post the required OSHA 3165 Poster – “Job Safety and Health, IT’S THE LAW.”
• Clearly label “Exit” signs, Radiation Area Signs, Sharps and Hazardous Waste Containers, Fire Extinguishers, and Eye Wash Stations.
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4. Electrical Cords and Panel Access

• All electrical panels should be accessible and free from obstructions. Do not place storage bins or equipment in front of an electrical panel.
• Use surge protectors only for sensitive equipment such as computers and lab equipment; do not exceed their capacity.
• When needed, place extension cords out of walkways and use tape to prevent trip hazards. Use extension cords temporarily and never as a permanent outlet location.

5. Anesthesia Safety and Compressed Gas Tank Storage

• Implement appropriate operating, maintenance, and employee training procedures. Ensure employees understand how to use systems and equipment to capture and remove waste anesthetic gases.
• Store compressed gas tanks safely, vertically, away from heat sources, restrained with straps or chains to prevent tipping or movement, and capped when not in use.

6. Hazard Communication Program and Fire/Emergency Action Plan

• Develop, implement, and maintain a written hazard communication program, emergency action plan, and evacuation map for your facility.

7. Risk Assessments and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Utilization

• Conduct and document assessments on hazardous activities to determine necessary control measures and PPE.
• Ensure staff understand when and how to properly use PPE and animal restraints.

8. Documentation of Initial and Refresher Employee Training

• Train your staff prior to participating in hazardous activities. Keep training records for each occurrence of completed training to include the topic, personnel, date, and presenter (if applicable).
• Commonly cited lack of training topics: Hazard Communication & GHS (Annual “OSHA” training); Anesthesia Safety, Radiology Safety, Animal Restraint; Sharps Safety; Ergonomics; Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards

9. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) Inaccessible or Missing

• Keep Safety Data Sheets current and readily available in the employee work area for all hazardous chemicals.

10. Secondary Container Labeling

• Label secondary containers and spray bottles with the chemical name and appropriate hazard warnings.

OSHA understands that incidents happen, but your compliance documentation should show that you are doing everything you can to provide a safe working environment for your employees. Use incidents as learning experiences with your employees. Focus on the goal of preventing a recurrence of the incident and improving the safety of your workplace for employees, patients, and visitors.

Maintaining compliance documentation can be a time consuming task. Try to keep in mind that employee hazard communication is one of the top three most cited OSHA penalties every year and it is key to ensuring employees are well trained and can be held accountable for completing their work safely. If you would like to learn more about preparing for an inspection or are looking for a more efficient way to maintain compliance documentation, we would love to help!