Minimize Risk When Working with Animals

Animals, and especially large stocks such as cattle and horses, are strong. Special care must be taken when such animals are handled.

Potential risks when working with animals include such aspects as:

• Poisoning by venom.
• Contraction of tetanus as a result of injury by an animal. (It is advisable to have yourself and the animal vaccinated against tetanus).
• Contracting a variety of zoönotic diseases such as brucellosis, TB, Rabies, endo-parasites, mad-cow disease.

It is for the prevention of such problems that Bio-security regulations should be applied.

Definitions:

Zoonotic: a disease that can be transmitted between animals and people.

Tetanus: an acute infectious disease characterized by tonic spasm of voluntary muscles, especially of the jaw and caused by the specific toxin of a bacterium (Clostridium tetani) which is usually introduced through a wound.

Rabies: an acute viral disease of the nervous system of warm-blooded animals that is caused by a rhabdovirus (genus Lyssavirus) usually transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal and that is characterized typically by increased salivation, abnormal behaviour, and eventual paralysis and death.

It is often necessary to handle animals intensively. When animals are contained in kraals or crushed pens for any purpose such as dosing, drenching, inoculating, branding and in modern times, dipping with modern "pour-on" dips, the animals are threatened in a way. This action can cause injury to the animals as well as the handlers.

All workplaces should have documented basic procedures that must be followed when workers are dealing with potentially dangerous animals. These procedures should be put up somewhere on display.

These procedures should form part of the workplace's Health and Safety Regulations and should include the following:

• Where the First Aid Kit is kept.
• Who the Health and Safety officers are and how to contact them?
• Who to contact in case of a medical emergency (both human and animal)?
• Who to contact in case a dangerous animal has escaped into a public space?
• Which level of worker is allowed to work with what category of the animal under what circumstances?
• What protective wear is expected to be used under what circumstances?
• Who is allowed to administer sedative drugs to animals, where they are kept and how they should be administered?
• If biosecurity (public protection from contamination with animal pathogens) is relevant, procedures to apply Biosecurity should be listed.

Because of the potential danger of working with animals and equipment, all employers are obliged by law to pay a levy to the Commissioner of Workman's Compensation. These funds are then available to assist with the medical attention needed by a worker should he or she has an accident or is injured in the workplace. As an employee, you are entitled to be reassured that your employer is paying the levy.