Poster provided by the AAHA Business Insurance ProgramWorking with Cats and Dogs Safely

Do•Placecatswithdogs

•Placeaggressivedogstogether

•Makesuddenmoves,loudnoises,orthreateninggestures

•Believethatadocilecatwillnotbiteorscratch

•Showfearoraggression

•Provokeortorment

•Holdapatient’smouthclosedwithyourhand

•ReachintokennelcageswithoutPersonalProtectiveEquipment(PPE)

•Allowinexperiencedorpoorlytrainedemployeestohandlepotentiallyaggressiveanimals

•Wearloosejewelryorarticlesthatmayinterferewithhandlingpatients

•UseproperPersonalProtectiveEquipment(PPE)

•Transportthepatientfromthelobbytotheexamroomassoonaspossible

•Useproperrestrainttechniquesatalltimes

•Usechemicalrestraintwhenappropriate

•Treatallcatsanddogsaspotentialbiters

•Separatecatsanddogsfromotheranimalstoavoidanxietyandfearfuloutbursts

•Useappropriateequipmenttohandleandrestrainpatients

•Becautiousofpatientswakingfromanesthesia–thelossofconsciousnessmaycausebehaviorchanges

•Trainyourstaffoncatanddogrestrainttechniques,behavior,andspecificsafetymethodsandprotocol

•Conductanddocumentsafetytrainingsessionsatleastquarterlyandreviewspecificsafetyissues

•Seekpromptmedicalattentionwhensomeoneisinjured

•Educateclientsontheproperuseandmanufacturer’sguidelinesofrestraintproducts

•Askthatownersmuzzleaggressivedogsbeforeenteringthepracticeandthatcatsarebroughtincarriers

•Implementanaggressive“PatientWillBite”Programthatrecordsaggressivebehaviorinthepatient’srecords

•Postponetreatmentorreferifadequaterestraintisnotavailabletoyou

Don’t

Workers’ Compensation Claim Trends

AAHA Business Insurance ProgramP.O.Box1629Chicago,IL60690-1629Phone:866-380-AAHA(2242)Fax:866-381-AAHAEmail:aaha@hubinternational.comwww.aahainsurance.org

Umbrella Liability

Special Coverage for Mobile Practitioners

ERISA Bonds

Workers’ Compensation

Employment Practices Liability

Commercial Auto

Broker and Consultant:

Hub International Midwest LimitedHub International Midwest Insurance Agency (CA)

Business Property/Liability

Flood

Safety and Loss Control Resources

25% Fingers

26% Hands

2.8% Wrists

11% Arms

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

5% Multiple Upper Body6% Multiple Upper Body

21% Face/Eye/Ear

1.1% Head/Skull/Brain17.9% Head/Skull/Brain

2.5% Face/Eye/Ear

<1% Back

<1% Chest/Ribs

12.5% Arms

4.8% Wrists

32% Hands

38% Fingers

1% Knees

<1% Feet

1% Back

<1% Chest/Ribs

3.8% Knees

<1% Feet

<1% Other<1% Other

Experience Level of Injured Workers

Cat Injury Locations Dog Injury Locations

Cats account for 53% of all bites

Workers’ Compensation Statistical Data Provided by The Hartford

Employee Job Position for Injuries Involving Cats Employee Job Position for Injuries Involving Dogs

Dogs account for 43% of all bites

42%

1-3Years

3-5Years

1-3Months

5-10Years

3-6Months

2-4Weeks

Up to 1Week

10 +Years

1-2Weeks

6-12Months

15.9%

9.3% 8.6% 8.4% 7.5%2.9% 2.5% 1.6% 1.3%

42% of claims involved workers with 1-3 years of experience

Technician - 42.6%

Veterinarian - 21%

Assistant - 18.4%

General - 4.9%

Groomer - 2.4%Attendant - 1.6%

Other - 4.9%Receptionist - 3.9%

General - 10%

Other - 6.2%

Receptionist - 5.7%Groomer - 3.2%

Attendant - 1.9%

Technician - 37.7%

Assistant - 17.8%

Veterinarian - 17.1%

Almost half (45%) of all claims happened before 12:00 p.m.

Overall, technicians claimed the most injuries at 40% followed by veterinarians at 20%

Bites and scratches were the most common injuries; however, cats caused 13% more claims than dogs.

The most common types of injuries sustained were punctures and lacerations.