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Safe Practices, Safe Babies


women who work in veterinary hospitals or clinics. However, most can keep their jobs without harming themselves or their babies-to-be, and without disrupting the workflow around them. Experts say the key to safety is for


W


Common sense and OSHA rule the guidelines for pregnant


workers in animal hospitals. by Ruth E. Thaler-Carter


Trends magazine, September 2011


everyone involved—hospital owners and managers, other staff, and pregnant workers themselves—to understand the risks and prepare accordingly. The first step for the employee is to


make sure she understands both the risks and preventive measures, which can start with consulting one’s own medical provider.


“It depends on what you’re doing,”


says Laura E. Riley, MD, medical direc- tor for labor and delivery at Massachu- setts General Hospital, Boston, Mass. “If you’re working with large animals, there is the risk of getting kicked, hit or bitten, so you have to stay out of harm’s way. “[To protect against] the infectious diseases that you might come into con- tact with, wear gloves, masks. If you’re doing anything with radiation, wear an apron, although ideally just don’t do that for a while. Make sure masks fit snugly so gas doesn’t escape.” Overall, she urged, “Be cautious.”


orking with animals and with the equip- ment needed to treat them can pose some risks for pregnant


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