Veterinarian practice involves complex procedures and requires a wide range of medical expertise. Occupational hazards affecting veterinary practice include physical, chemical, and biological risks.
Veterinarians are at greater risk of injury due to the following reasons:
Often encounter large and uncooperative animals (e.g., bites, scratches, kicks, transport and turning, etc.)
Face adverse workplace chemical exposure including formaldehyde, anesthetics, pesticides, allergens, and chemotherapeutic agents
Animals can transmit zoonotic infections. Among these, biological risks are particularly important, mostly because the nature of zoonoses can be highly infectious and deadly
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), adequate knowledge of occupational and transmissible diseases, vaccination, proper hand hygiene and environmental cleaning all provide protection from many physical, chemical and biological hazards.