Introduction Workplaces with presence of animals used for different aims need to apply specific procedures and methods to ensure the welfare of both animals and humans. Animal Health Care Workers (AHCWs) and all personnel staff have to be adequately trained on both the management of animals and occupational safety and health. The EU regulation focused on the necessity to improve the training of all workers employed in animal care as well as of workers in general regarding occupational risks; the control of indoor environmental parameters (physical, chemical and biological) is crucial for animal wellbeing as well as to meet occupational health requirements. In Italy the act 26/14 regulates the protection of animals used for scientific purposes while the act 81/08 deals with occupational health and safety, both implementing EU directives and including duties on workers' information and training. Methods We reviewed scientific literature and examined institutional web-sites regarding animal care, regulation, risk prevention and occupational health. Results It can be argued that risk management should consider protection of human, animal and environmental health, the professional competence of all workers and the issuing of guidelines regarding education and required competence. Moreover it is suggested to encourage the standardization of molecular/innovative methodologies to be applied on biological and environmental matrices. Discussion The field of occupational health and safety is strictly linked to animal wellness and health. Animal care in different settings requires competence, experience, education, training, responsibility. It is necessary to apply collective, individual and behavioral preventive and protective measures to improve the health and safety for animals and workers. For instance, allergies and infectious diseases are carried by biological agents transmitted from animals to humans and from indoor to outdoor environment and vice versa.
Educational and training in animal care: a workplace scenario to combine human health and animal health.
Riviello MC
2015
Abstract
Introduction Workplaces with presence of animals used for different aims need to apply specific procedures and methods to ensure the welfare of both animals and humans. Animal Health Care Workers (AHCWs) and all personnel staff have to be adequately trained on both the management of animals and occupational safety and health. The EU regulation focused on the necessity to improve the training of all workers employed in animal care as well as of workers in general regarding occupational risks; the control of indoor environmental parameters (physical, chemical and biological) is crucial for animal wellbeing as well as to meet occupational health requirements. In Italy the act 26/14 regulates the protection of animals used for scientific purposes while the act 81/08 deals with occupational health and safety, both implementing EU directives and including duties on workers' information and training. Methods We reviewed scientific literature and examined institutional web-sites regarding animal care, regulation, risk prevention and occupational health. Results It can be argued that risk management should consider protection of human, animal and environmental health, the professional competence of all workers and the issuing of guidelines regarding education and required competence. Moreover it is suggested to encourage the standardization of molecular/innovative methodologies to be applied on biological and environmental matrices. Discussion The field of occupational health and safety is strictly linked to animal wellness and health. Animal care in different settings requires competence, experience, education, training, responsibility. It is necessary to apply collective, individual and behavioral preventive and protective measures to improve the health and safety for animals and workers. For instance, allergies and infectious diseases are carried by biological agents transmitted from animals to humans and from indoor to outdoor environment and vice versa.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
