Worksite

Analysis

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Worksite Analysis
Jaclyn Christensen, LVT
January 24, 2015

Worksite

Analysis
Current and Potential Hazards Present in the Workplace

Employees are currently at risk of injury due to sharps/needles. Our employees often recap
needles, which poses a risk of being stuck with a used needle. Additionally, several employees
have been seen removing needle caps with their mouths. This is a major health risk due to the
potential of a needle stick, as well as the presence of bacteria on the needle cap being put into the
employees mouth. To minimize risk and to follow OSHAs compliance regulations, needle-stick
injury prevention should be followed. Employees should never recap needles, never use their
mouths when handling needles/syringes, and promptly dispose of needles and syringes into a

sharps container.
Employees are not using personal protection equipment (PPE) adequately. While gloves are not
necessary when handling healthy animals, they should always be worn in certain situations.
Situations include: handling excrement or any bodily fluids, when cleaning cages or litterboxes,
when handling dirty laundry, and when handling diagnostic specimens. Our employees are
proficient at wearing gloves with the obviously infectious animal, but the previously mentioned

situations should also be considered when using PPE.

Employees occasionally do not take the proper steps when handling aggressive animals. Patients
who have shown potential to be aggressive should always be muzzled during handling.
Aggressive animals should additionally be restrained when performing any procedures or
diagnostics. It is extremely important to try to prevent any bite related injury to the staff, as well
as the owner. Employees should never rely on an owner to restrain an aggressive patient.
Additionally, it is occasionally noted that employees request that the owners muzzle their
aggressive pet. This is not recommended as the patient may bite the owner. If necessary, use

sedation to properly restrain aggressive patients.

Hand hygiene is an important factor due to the potential zoonotic risks of handling patients, as
well as the potential of transmitting infectious disease from patient to patient. It is occasionally
noted that employees are not adequately washing their hands. Employees should follow the

Worksite
Analysis
correct hand-washing procedure between each patient. As an alternative, employees may wear
gloves when handling patients, but employees must remember to dispose of gloves between
patients. Failure to do so may result in patient exposure to infectious diseases or pathogens.