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EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION
Equine vet. Educ. (2018) 30 (4) 200-205 doi: 10.1111/eve.12891
Original Article
Occupational risks of working with horses: A questionnaire survey of equine veterinary surgeons
T. D. H. Parkin†* , J. Brown‡ and E. B. Macdonald‡ †Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow; and ‡Healthy Working Lives Group, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK *Corresponding author email:
tim.parkin@
glasgow.ac.uk
Keywords: horse; equine veterinary surgeons; work-related injuries
Summary Limited scientific evidence from other countries and plenty of anecdotal evidence suggest that the risk of personal injury in equine veterinary practice is high. However, a comprehensive description of the types of risks to which equine veterinary surgeons expose themselves has not previously been available. The aim of this study was to quantify the number, types and causes of personal injury sustained by equine veterinary practitioners in the UK. An interview (and online) questionnaire-based survey was conducted with a large number of equine veterinary practitioners. Questions were designed to identify the number of injuries sustained during the respondent’s career to date and to acquire details of the worst injury sustained including cause, treatment and short- and long-term outcomes. A total of 2292 injuries were reported by 620 respondents, equating to one injury every 3 years 7 months in those respondents. Most ‘worst’ injuries occurred while the veterinary surgeon was conducting most common reasons for equine examination. The most frequent sites of this ‘worst’ injury were the leg and the head with the main cause of injury being a kick with hindlimb. Of all reports, 33% of injuries resulted in a hospital admission of which 43% required hospital admission for longer than 24 h and 7% of reports resulted in a loss of consciousness. The main limitation of this work is the descriptive nature of the survey. It would be unwise to assume that the procedures identified as being most commonly associated with injury in the study are more risky than other less commonly conducted procedures. In conclusion, equine veterinary practice is a risky profession. Greater emphasis on and awareness of methods to avoid or mitigate risk should be a priority for anyone working with horses and their employers.
Introduction
Recent work indicates that veterinary practitioners involved in equine work sustain significant numbers of injuries as part of their work with horses (Mohammed et al. 2002; Jaeggin et al. 2005; Loomans et al. 2008; Lucas et al. 2009a). There is a perception that equine practice is inherently risky and that some risk is taken for granted by current equine practitioners (Loomans et al. 2008). This is of concern and indicates that greater efforts to raise awareness of the level of risk and consequences of some equine-related injury should be a focus of this sector to the veterinary community. A study from the USA described occupational injuries in Thoroughbred horse farms (Swanberg et al. 2013). The study was particularly
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interested in the description of Latino and non-Latino workers’ experiences and showed that general injuries and musculoskeletal strains, sprains and tears account for the majority of injuries among workers on Thoroughbred farms. Further work from Germany investigated the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and work-related accidents in all veterinarians, concluding that targeted advice to specific groups of veterinarians about risk prevention measures was required (Kozak et al. 2014). Further studies have investigated the risk of injury or trauma
associated with general veterinary practice (Landercasper et al. 1988; Nienhaus et al. 2005; Fritschi et al. 2006; Lucas et al. 2009b) or more generally those working with (Swanberg et al. 2016) or coming into contact with horses (Griffen et al. 2002). Some of these studies have identified that injuries associated with large animals are more likely to be of serious consequence and others have gone on to identify risk factors for either severe or specifically large animal related injury. To the authors’ knowledge, the prevalence and type of
injuries incurred by veterinarians working in equine practice in the UK has not previously been described or quantified. Knowledge of the risks involved will better inform equine
veterinary surgeons of the risks to which they are exposed, enabling them to take preventive measures which will include full and thorough risk assessments and potentially the use of personal protective equipment in certain situations. Potential recruits, who are considering a career in equine practice, will also be able to make more informed decisions on their chosen profession. Importantly, this work should also form the basis of client–vet communication ensuring that horse-owners understand the potential risk, providing greater justification for the use of appropriate sedation or other risk mitigation measures as a routine part of equine veterinary practice in specific circumstances. The aim of the study was to describe and quantify the
frequency of equine work-related injury or illness in practicing equine veterinary surgeons in the UK.
Materials and methods
The survey A Work-Related Injuries in Equine Practitioners’ Questionnaire was developed and piloted on approximately 20 equine
veterinary surgeons in July 2013. The questionnaire was finalised and developed into an online format using SmartSurvey1 online survey software in September 2013.
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