Health and Safety

Question 1

What is a RIDDOR report?

Answer 1

A RIDDOR report is required only when the accident is work-related and it results in an injury of a type which is reportable.

Question 2

The death of any person must be reported if it arises from a work-related accident. To whom does this apply?

Answer 2

Workers and non-workers

Question 3

A femoral fracture is an example of what type of injury under RIDDOR?

Answer 3

Specified injury

Question 4

If an accident leads to a worker being incapacitated so they cannot perform their normal duties and/or are away from work or cannot perform their normal duties, when/how does this fall under RIDDOR?

Answer 4

Record if over 3 day incapacitation, report if over 7 day incapacitation.

Question 5

When do non-fatal accidents to non-workers (clients) have to be reported by an employer?

Answer 5

When the accident results in an injury and the person is taken directly from the scene of the accident to hospital for treatment of that injury.

Question 6

What are some examples of COSHH substances in vet practices and animal establishments?

Answer 6

• Dust from animal bedding
• Cleaners, including detergents and biocides
• Medicines
• Ionising radiation sources
• Microorganisms from animals
• Animal allergies/sensitivities
• Other allergies/sensitivities

Question 7

What are the hazards from electrical items to humans and animals?

Answer 7

Electrical burns
Thermal burns
Loss of muscle control
Electrocution/electric shock

Question 8

When can a voltage block electrical signals between the brain and muscles?

Answer 8

Even a low voltage like 50V applied between 2 parts of the body for long enough can block the electrical signals between the brain and muscles. Long enough in this case might be 2-10 seconds.

Question 9

What affects the electrical current pathway?

Answer 9

Physical size/the distance current travels affects the electrical current pathway. The longer the distance, the more sensitivity.

Question 10

What happens to the resistivity of the skin when it is wet?

Answer 10

The resistivity of the skin is lower when it is wet, estimated as 1000 ohms when wet and more than 500,000 ohms when dry.

Question 11

What affects the resistivity within the body?

Answer 11

Resistivity within the body depends on the organs, such as the internal resistance between the ears is only 100 ohms whereas it is 500 ohms when measured from finger to toe.

Question 12

What is the effect of 1mA of current on the body?

Answer 12

Faint tingle

Question 13

What is the effect of 5mA of current on the body?

Answer 13

Slight shock felt, disturbing but not painful, most people can let go. However strong, involuntary movements can cause injuries.

Question 14

What is the effect of 6-30mA on the body?

Answer 14

Painful shock. Muscular control lost. This is where freezing current starts, may not be possible to let go.

Question 15

What is the effect of 50-150mA on the body?

Answer 15

Extreme pain, respiratory arrest, severe muscular contractions. Individual cannot let go, death is possible.

Question 16

What is the effect of 1000-43000mA on the body?

Answer 16

Ventricular fibrillation/uneven uncoordinated pumping of the heart. Muscular contraction and nerve damage begins to occur death is likely.

Question 17

What is the effect of 10,000mA on the body?

Answer 17

Cardiac arrest and severe burns occur. Death is probable

Question 18

If your skin is dry, it could be as high as 100,00 ohms which would give 2.4mA of current – how dangerous do you think this current might be?

Answer 18

2.4 mA will give you a bit of a jolt (see the table; 1 mA = tingling sensation felt)

Question 19

If your skin is dry, it could be as high as 100,00 ohms which would give 24mA of current – how dangerous do you think this current might be?

Answer 19

6-30 mA is when the ‘let go’ threshold is reached: unable to let go, tonic contractions of muscles, tissue damage, contraction of respiratory muscles, asphyxia and hypoxaemia. So, serious shock and effect on the heart.

Question 20

What can currents above 75-100mA delivered for less than 1 second lead to?

Answer 20

Ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular fibrillation (VF)

Question 21

During electrocution, what is the risk of ventricular fibrillation determined by?

Answer 21

• Current density (as the electricity travels across the chest)
• Proximity to myocardium

Question 22

How do defibrillators work?

Answer 22

Work by giving a high current shock across the heart when the heart still has electrical activity, mostly by fibrillation. Can’t restart an electrically inactive heart.

Question 23

What is the result of deep electrical burns?

Answer 23

Deep burns that require major surgery and are permanently disabling

Question 24

What are the main hazards associated with diathermy?

Answer 24

• Accidental burns
• Accidental electrocution
• Surgical plume
• Ignition of volatile agents
• Electrical inference with other medical devices like ECG machines, pacemakers and video equipment

Question 25

What is anaesthetic waste gas scavenging?

Answer 25

Gases can be vented to outside (actively or passively) or absorbed into a chemical medium and disposed of.

Question 26

What must active anaesthetic gas scavenging include?

Answer 26

If you are using active scavenging with a pump to remove gases, there needs to be an airbrake in the system otherwise the pump will just suck the gases out of the patient, and they can’t breathe.

Question 27

What are the maximum legal occupational exposure limits to halothane, isofluorane, sevoflurane and nitrous oxide?

Answer 27

Halothane 10ppm Isoflurane 50ppm Sevoflurane 60ppm Nitrous Oxide 100ppm

Question 28

What health effects can be caused due to exposure to high concentrations of waste anaesthetic gases?

Answer 28

- Headache - Irritability - Fatigue - Nausea - Drowsiness - Difficulties with judgment and coordination - Liver and kidney disease

Question 29

What hazards are associated with clinical samples?

Answer 29

Patient may have a zoonotic disease. Patient may be undergoing treatment with cytotoxic drugs.

Question 30

Who might be at risk from hazards associated with clinical samples?

Answer 30

Those packing or transporting samples. Lab workers handling the samples.

Question 31

What procedures do you think should be put in place to reduce the risk of harm occurring with respect to clinical samples?

Answer 31

In these cases, the suspected disease/ cytotoxic treatment must be stated clearly and boldly on the sample container, the packaging, the accompanying paperwork or request form Samples should be transported according to regulations.

Question 32

How is waste managed?

Answer 32

Controlled by law and local authority regulations. There are 3 categories of waste: domestic, commercial and industrial

Question 33

What are some risk reduction measures?

Answer 33

- Hazard elimination – alternatives, design improvements, change of process - Substitution – replacement of chemical/process - Barriers – isolation, segregation - Procedures – safe systems, exposure limitation - Warnings systems - PPE – used only when other methods are not possible, a last resort

Question 34

What are hazards specifically to pregnant individuals?

Answer 34

- Zoonosis – TB in Camelids, Hep. E – endemic in Pigs - Anaesthetic gases - Manual handling - Fatigue, slips, trips

Question 35

Why should we manage health and safety?

Answer 35

Moral Financial - claims against employer, insurance premiums, costs of accidents are high Legal Professional - duty of care, unsafe practices may have claims of clinical negligence

Question 36

What are ACOPs?

Answer 36

Approved codes of practice are for high risk activities, such as taking x-rays

Question 37

What are SOPs?

Answer 37

Standard operating procedures are more dependent on local facilities, such as handling a feline patient to specific local facilities like cat wards.

Question 38

What are 2 insurances that must be held by all businesses?

Answer 38

Employer's Liability Insurance – the legal liability to employees for death or injury Public Liability Insurance – the legal liability to third parties for death or injury or damage to their property

Question 39

What other insurance may a veterinary practice hold?

Answer 39

Professional Negligence Insurance – the legal liability for breach or professional duty by reason of any negligent act or accidental error or omission in teaching, research or consultancy.

Question 40

What are the human factors that may affect your ability to do your job?

Answer 40

Ill health HALT – hungry, angry, late/lonely, tired