10 September 2015
BEVA addresses injury risks posed to horse vets
The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is working with other major veterinary
bodies in the UK to address the injury risks posed to equine vets. The move follows the
shocking results of the 2013 survey on work-related injuries in equine practitioners in the
UK. This revealed that being a horse vet may carry the highest risk of injury of any civilian
occupation in the country, beyond even that of a fire fighter.
Representatives from BEVA, the BVA, RCVS, VDS, vet school equine department heads,
major equine veterinary practices, together with survey authors, attended round table
discussions. Subsequently they have drawn up a consensus statement to pinpoint the major
obstacles and key objectives to minimise the risk of workplace injury to equine vets.
The next phase will explore how reporting can be improved to help with the development of
practical measures to reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries. The UK Thoroughbred
industry’s recent work to implement safer working practices may be followed to help draw
up realistic guidelines.
Mark Bowen, the new President of BEVA said: “There is a clear need to establish safer
systems of work, and education of the profession and other animal handlers. A key for
longevity of future safety is the training of veterinary students and newly qualified equine
veterinary surgeons. This will help ensure they are aware of the most risky procedures and
the methods they should employ to remain safe as reasonably practicable while working
with horses.”
For further information visit www.beva.org.uk.
ENDS
The study was co-funded by the British Equine Veterinary Association and the Veterinary
Defence Society and led by veterinary epidemiologist Tim Parkin of the University of
Glasgow Veterinary School and supported by medical professionals at Institute of Health
and
Wellbeing
at
the
University
http://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/healthwellbeing/
of
Glasgow.
A total of 620 equine vets completed a work-related injuries questionnaire between
September and November 2013. The results of the study indicated that an equine vet could
expect to sustain between seven and eight work-related injuries that impeded them from
practicing, during a 30-year working life. Data available from the Health and Safety
Executive suggest that vets working in equine practice in the UK, thus sustain a very high
number of injuries compared to other civilian occupations, including those working in the
construction industry, prison service and the fire brigade. Participants were asked to
describe their worst-ever injury. Most were described as bruising, fracture and laceration,
with the most common site of injury being the leg (29%), followed by the head (23%). The
main cause of injury was a kick with a hind limb (49%), followed by strike with a fore limb
(11%), followed by crush injury (5%). Nearly a quarter of these reported injuries required
hospital admission and notably, 7% resulted in loss of consciousness.
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