New leaflet on the safe use of veterinary medicines

HSE has revised and updated leaflet AS31 to incorporate new advice for farmers, workers and other animal handlers who are required to administer veterinary medicines.

Leaflet AS31(rev1), entitled "Veterinary Medicines - Safe use by farmers and other animal handlers" will help those who administer such products to do so safely and ensure that health risks are properly controlled.  The leaflet sets out how to achieve compliance with The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 and gives advice on how to undertake a COSHH assessment by following a simple six-step process.

Control measures outlined in the revised guide include the need for proper restraint of the animal to be treated, the use of needle protectors to reduce the risk of accidental self-injection, disinfection devices to reduce the risks of bacterial infection from contact with "dirty" needles, and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment. 

Should an accident or incident occur, the leaflet describes what arrangements should be in place for dealing with injured persons.  Workers who have been affected by veterinary medicines are advised to take the product or information leaflet with them to assist medical staff with prescribing the correct treatment.  The need for prompt medical attention in the event of self-injection with a mineral oil based product is highlighted, together with the procedures for reporting incidents and adverse reactions to HSE and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) under the Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme (SARSS).

Other subjects covered by AS31(rev1) include the training requirements for work with veterinary medicines, together with advice on safe storage, transport and disposal.

The revised leaflet is available as a document to download from the HSE website at hse.gov.uk/pubns/as31.htm.