Injuries to Australian veterinarians working with horses.
Authors: Lucas M, Day L, Fritschi L
Journal: The Veterinary record
Summary
Lucas, Day and Fritschi reviewed serious injury data from Australian equine veterinarians to establish which tasks posed the greatest occupational risks and which anatomical regions were most vulnerable. Of 453 horse-related serious injuries documented within a larger cohort of 2188 animal-related incidents, the majority occurred in stock handling and yard environments, with fractures representing the predominant injury type affecting the head, face and lower limbs. Specific clinical procedures—particularly suturing, wound care, tubing and drenching—correlated with elevated injury frequency, suggesting these routine tasks warrant heightened vigilance and protective measures. Notably, 70 per cent of injured veterinarians reported having used safety precautions at the time of injury, indicating that whilst protective equipment provides some benefit, the nature of these procedures creates unavoidable hazard exposure. For equine professionals managing horses during medical procedures or yard work, this data highlights the need for systematic risk assessment during high-risk activities and consideration of additional engineering controls or handling protocols beyond standard personal protective equipment alone.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Horse handling in yards during routine procedures (suturing, wound care, drenching) carries significant injury risk for veterinarians; implementing structured safety protocols in these environments is critical
- •Personal protective equipment and safety precautions should be prioritized during high-risk procedures, particularly those involving the head and face area
- •Yard design and handling facilities should be evaluated to minimize injury risk, as most incidents occur in stock or handling yards
Key Findings
- •Of 2188 serious injuries reported, 453 (28.6%) involved horses, with 72.3% of all serious injuries being animal-related
- •Most horse-related injuries occurred in stock or handling yards during activities such as suturing, wound care, tubing and drenching
- •Head, face and lower extremities were the most commonly injured body parts, with fractures being the most common type of serious injury
- •70% of injured veterinarians reported using safety precautions at the time of injury