THE MAJORITY of farm animal vets have suffered an injury at work in the last year according to a survey by the British Veterinary Association.

More than 61% of vets reported being injured whilst working with production animals in a 12-month snapshot which has prompted the BVA to urge farmers and vets to develop and improve on-farm health and safety procedures.

One in five production animal vets responding to BVA’s Autumn 2018 Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey rated their injuries as very or quite severe.

The most common injury reported was bruising caused by kicks, which covered 81% of injury reports. Other injuries reported included crush injuries, lacerations, scratches and bites. Almost a fifth of vets surveyed had to take time off work as a result of their most severe injury.

Vets responding to the survey described some of the injuries they had received and their impact on their health and careers.

“I was kicked by a cow during a caesarean, flew backwards into my kit and sprained a wrist - in the same week as a horse hit my face with its head. But I was unable to take time off work as I’m the only one here,” one vet said.

“Regrettably, I am giving up large animal work because it is too dangerous,” another reported. “I am the lead earner in my house and we wish to start a family and cattle work is simply too dangerous now because of the risk of serious kick and crush injuries.”

BVA President Simon Doherty shared his own first-hand experience with on-farm injuries and their life-changing impact:

“I’ve been stood on, kicked and had my arm broken whilst working with cattle. I’ve had problems with my back due to the physical aspects of repeated lambings and calvings – particularly at night-time – and when I ruptured a spinal ligament calving a heifer with a uterine torsion, the injury was serious enough that I could no longer continue working in large animal practice.”

Mr Doherty emphasised the importance of all parties taking health and safety on farm seriously: “These figures show the serious risk of injury that production animal vets run in the course of their work, even when handling facilities are relatively good. Animals on a farm can be large, heavy and unpredictable, and farmers and vets up and down the country have seen colleagues injured on farms and frequently unable to work as a result,” he stressed.

“Health and safety assessments by farmers, vets and veterinary employers can reduce these injuries and save lives by informing action plans to minimise avoidable risk. Safe and well-maintained facilities and restraining equipment, such as cattle crushes, pens, gates and safe escape routes, are also key to reducing injuries to humans as well as animals. I’d encourage farmers and vets to start the conversation and take action to minimise avoidable risks,” he urged.