The "Occupational Outlook Handbook" reports that animal caretakers work as veterinary assistants, at boarding kennels, animal shelters, stables, grooming shops, zoos, and in local, state and federal agencies. They feed, water, groom, bathe and exercise animals and maintain the animals' habitats. They also play, provide companionship and observe behavioral changes that could indicate illness or injury of the animals. Animal caretakers' work can be physically and emotionally demanding and sometimes dangerous. For this reason they must be well-informed of their risks of injury and illness.
Educational Training and Skills
According to Careers.org, most animal caretakers are trained on the job. Employers generally prefer to hire people experienced with animals; some jobs require a bachelor's degree in biology, animal science or a related field. As specified by Careerzone.org, animal caretakers need to have skills in: judgment, decision making, social perceptiveness, active listening, speaking and time management. Caretakers also need knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures and strategies to promote local, state and national security operations for the protection of people, data, property and institutions.
Associated Hazards
The Health and Safety Information for Animal Workers states that physical harm, needle-stick and sharps injuries, repetitive strain and lifting injuries, and infections are some of the most common hazards linked to working with animals. Animals can cause injury by bites, scratches, stings, kicking, crushing, infection, infestation from micro-organisms or parasites they carry, or allergies in some people. Some people have phobias about particular kinds of animals that can cause extreme fears. There are also different products needed to clean or disinfect that are hazardous to human health or may cause fires or aggravate allergies.
Physical Injury Training
Procedures to prevent injury by animals include training in the correct method of handling animals, the use of gloves or other protective clothing, and various restraining devices or cages. The Health and Safety Information for Animal Workers suggests that the appropriate risk assessment of the likelihood of injury from a particular species should be taken; and if necessary, additional training be instituted. The Health and Safety Executive declares that to minimize risk, animals should be handled no more than necessary and that caretakers should practice at least basic hygiene, wear protective clothing, have adequate immunity to tetanus and make provisions for first aid.
Needle-stick Injury Training
The Health and Safety Information for Animal Workers states that there is a hazard associated with injecting animals because the animal may move at a critical point. Careful positioning of hands and the appropriate restraints of the animal minimize the risk of needle-stick injuries. Needles should always remain capped until immediately before being inserted into the animal. After the needle is used it should not be re-sheathed unless done so via a safe means, such as holding the sheath or cap with tweezers. This is to safeguard the caretaker from puncturing a finger with the needle. The sharps or needles should always be disposed of directly into a sharps container.
Strain and Lifting Injury Training
Lifting and handling of heavy items repeatedly used in animal facilities, such as bags of food or bedding materials, metal cages and moving of large animals are some of the daily tasks that can contribute to muscular-skeletal injuries. Animal caretakers must be trained in the principles of lifting and carrying heavy objects to avoid these injuries. For movement of extra large animals it may be necessary to use mechanical hoists or lifts. All procedures should be risk-assessed to identify any areas that might be a problem.
Infection Training
According to the Health and Safety Information for Animal Workers, animals may be infected with a range of micro-organisms or parasites that can also infect humans. Some examples of these infections include ringworm, bovine, TB, leptospirosis and E. coli. These diseases spread via various routes including close contact during handling or contamination to a wound with urine or feces. To control these infections and keep animal caretakers safe they must be trained on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE.) This equipment should always be worn with handling infectious agents.
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