title: Survey of occupational hazards in Minnesota veterinary practices in 2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the scope of occupational hazards encountered by veterinary personnel and compare hazard exposures between veterinarians and technicians working in small and large animal practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Licensed veterinarians and veterinary staff in Minnesota.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey of Minnesota veterinary personnel was conducted between February 1 and December 1, 2012. Adult veterinary personnel working in clinical practice for > 12 months were eligible to participate. Information was collected on various workplace hazards as well as on workplace safety culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  831 eligible people responded, representing approximately 10% of Minnesota veterinary personnel. A greater proportion of veterinarians (93%; 368/394) reported having received preexposure rabies vaccinations than did veterinary technicians (54%; 198/365). During their career, 226 (27%) respondents had acquired at least 1 zoonotic infection and 636 (77%) had been injured by a needle or other sharps. Recapping of needles was reported by 87% of respondents; the most common reason reported by veterinarians (41%; 142/345) and veterinary technicians (71%; 238/333) was being trained to do so at school or work. Recent feelings of depression were reported by 204 (25%) respondents. A greater proportion of technicians (42%; 155/365) than veterinarians (21%; 81/394) indicated working in an environment in which employees experienced some form of workplace abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Veterinary personnel in Minnesota were exposed to several work-related hazards. Practice staff should assess workplace hazards, implement controls, and incorporate instruction on occupational health into employee training.
authors.forename: Heather N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Stacy M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Holzbauer
authors.forename: Kirk E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Joni M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Scheftel
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017750:Animal Technicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000818:Animals; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology*