LVS RISK ASSESSMENT Animal Handling - Dogs

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Melissa Miller
6 years ago
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1 Divisional Manager: Owner (Doc Author): Responsible Person: *Stock Checker: Shelley Monks Shelley Monks Head VN/ Clinical Lead LVS RISK ASSESSMENT Animal Handling - Dogs Cross referenced assessments: (e.g. SAH 2,4, 9. Surgery 15) Assessment ID Reference: (e.g. SAP 1) SAP3 First Issued date: January 2009 Last Revision date: Last Review date: Division: Workers most at risk (print): Room or Space:- SAP Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Nurses, Students, Animal Care Assistants, Owners/representatives Waiting room, Consulting rooms, Treatment room, Dog Ward, Theatre 1. Hazard checklist: Tick box if you think the hazard exists. A guidance note for each line can be found on page 4 of this document. The letter marking each line below indicates the letter which should be used to identify the appropriate guidance note. a. Condition of:.... floor. stairs. Furniture. b. Extremes of: light. noise. temperature. humidity. ventilation / draught. c. Abnormal levels of:... dust. fumes / aerosols. Smells. d. Animals: kicking / scratching. X biting. X Crushing. e. Flammables: Solvents. paper / board. wood. f. Radiation: X-ray / radioactivity. Ultraviolet. laser. g. Equipment training:... inadequate training. no training. Needs re-training. h. Equipment:.... sparks / generates static. has a flame. Uses flammable liquids. i. Electrical equipment: damaged / exposed wires. trailing leads / adapters. PAT tested. j. Equipment with:..... sharp / fast moving parts. Emergency cut out. extreme temperatures. k. Manual handling:... dragging/moving/lifting. X heavy. X awkward. X l. Vehicles: farm. passenger. lorries/vans. m. Pressure systems:.... autoclaves. gas cylinders. liquefied gases. n. Word processing / computing. DSE/VDU. Program / software. workstation. o. Working: Lone-working. over-crowding. Housekeeping - bench / floor. p. Working: above 2m off ground. on ladders / scaffolds. Below ground level. q. WRULD work related upper limb disorders RSI keyboard, pipette. WRULD from vibration. r. outside buildings, roads Falling objects. Swinging doors Pot holes. Obstructions / low beams. s. Biologicals X t. Specific training for this RA Other Risk Assessments [ needed ][ done ] 2. List any other hazards not identified in Section 1 COSHH GM Manual handling DSE Disability Pregnancy Page 1 of 5

2 3. Hazard assessment A. Hazard as identified in 1 And 2 above d - Bites and scratches whilst handling dog B. Effects On health Damage to skin and potential muscle damage if severe dog bite, risk of infection. C. How is the hazard controlled now Training for staff and protocols in place in animal handling. Where possible handle dogs in pairs and use experienced personnel to restrain dog. Use of protective equipment such as muzzles, towels etc The small animal practice is an environment that has the potential to stress dogs leading them to behave out of character. A strange environment, different smells and people all can lead to a confused, distressed dog that also maybe in pain. It is not the policy of LVS to muzzle all animals for treatment, as a muzzle can add to an animal s stress during a procedure or sometimes exacerbate the condition of the patient. However muzzles are available in the practice. Therefore; any dog exhibiting potentially aggressive behaviour should have a kennel sign D. Hazard score * Page 2 of 5 E. Likelihood score * F. Risk to Health - D x E G. How can hazard be reduced, removed, or controlled better? (Only fill in if F is 6) H. Relevant SOPs Acceptable. Handling of Care Patients

3 that caution and restraint may be required. Clinicians must also use their professional judgement based not only on previous history of the dog but also on behaviour exhibited at the time of the procedure. If there is any concerns over the behaviour or signs that the dog may become aggressive then a muzzle must be used. The clinician in charge of a procedure must take a lead when supervising students. Students may have less experience in reading any signs exhibited by the animals therefore the leading clinician must take the lead in making a decision on whether to muzzle a dog taking into account the student activity and interaction in any procedure. All students have training dog and cat handling lectures in their first year of study and prior to going on any placements - this is done with a lecture and then for dogs a practical using live teaching dogs. Dynamic risk assessment if required. Page 3 of 5

4 k - Manual handling (Lifting the dog) Back strain/muscle strain, arm wrench if pulled over Manual handling training, safe lifting techniques, use of stretchers and hydraulic tables Acceptable s - Allergies Skin sensitivity, respiratory problems Ensure large dogs (over 15kg) are lifted by at least 2 people Wear gloves and dust masks Use of vacuum cleaner with HEPA filter for collecting clipped hair Acceptable Lung function tests and routine health screening for staff handling animals S - Disease related tetanus, salmonella, campylobacter, giardia, visceral larva migrans, hydatid disease, toxoplasmosis, ringworm, scabies, mange, cheyletiella, rabies, pseudorabies, leishmania Incidence is rare low but will cause various symptoms Any Special considerations if pregnant Ensure all staff/students have been vaccinated against tetanus Good standards of hygiene, PPE when necessary PRA if required Acceptable 1 (very low), 2, 3, 4 (very high) A. List all the hazards which you perceive as potentially causing a danger B. List the effects on health or the consequence of failure of the hazard C. How is the hazard controlled in practice, and what is the frequency of checks on the controls? D. Score the potential effect of the injury or accident caused by the hazard as found, with control measures in place. 1 - Very low severity; 2 - Illness may be acute but not debilitating; 3 - Illness may be acute and temporarily debilitating 4 - Illness may be permanently debilitating or lethal E. Likelihood of B happening. 1 - Very low or very unlikely; Page 4 of 5 F. Risk to health: if D x E = 1 to 4, the risk is generally acceptable if D x E = 6 or 8 the risk is generally unacceptable, but may be accepted under certain circumstances. The procedure must be justified. G. How can hazard be reduced, removed or controlled better? H. Relevant SOPs If D x E = 9 to 16, the risk is unacceptable, it must to be reduced

5 2 - Low or unlikely; 3 - Medium or reasonably likely and 4 - High or very likely to happen Emergency Contacts: (competent Senior Persons Diane Leggo Head VN James Allsop Clinical Lead Bill Millard LVS Safety Officer *Emergency Aids Emergency Contacts (24 hours): Langford Security Lodge tel: ( ) See also UOB Crisis Management Crib Sheet (See Divisional Notice Board) 4. Signatures Name of Assessor (Supervisor/Status) (PRINT) Name of Manager (PRINT) Name of CEO (Head of Department) (PRINT) Date: Date: Date: Page 5 of 5

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