This third presentation of a series of 6 AVT presentations on Occupational Health & Safety risks related to outbreaks of Avian Influenza.

1. Session 3
Occupational Health & Safety
Harm Kiezebrink
Research Fellow
Faculty of Veterinary Science Queensland University

2. AI in Holland 2003
 4,500 people were in contact with
diseased birds
 2,250 persons (50%) carried antibodies
 453 people showed symptoms
 89 people were diseased with H7N7 (3
were not in direct contact with diseased
birds)
 Approx. 4,050 family members, relatives
and friends carried antibodies
 1 veterinarian died
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© 2014 Applied Veterinary
Technologies Europe AB

3. Lessons learnt
 Improperly cleaned & disinfected
large-scale culling equipment
become big risks for re-
introduction of infections
 Clean and disinfect responders first
before they exit an infected area
 Team up responders when they
put on – and take off their
Personal Protection Equipment
(supervising each other)
 Train people to use PPE well in
advance
© 2014 Applied Veterinary
Technologies Europe AB
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4. Lessons learnt
 Lead by example
 Stopping the outbreak depends on
the skills of the responders
 Reduce staff entering an infected
area to the absolute minimum
 Create an outbreak response plan
for each farm
 Contract well-skilled and trained
professionals instead of hiring
responders on the spot – including
calling the army
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© 2014 Applied Veterinary
Technologies Europe AB

5. Lessons learnt
 Clear management structure
 Overall responsibility at the Veterinary
authority – not the veterinary field
officer
 Follow up strict safety protocols &
Standard Operating Procedures
 Health & Safety officer supervising the
response operation
 Clear - enforceable - instructions instead
of on-the-job training
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© 2014 Applied Veterinary
Technologies Europe AB

6. 6
Lessons learnt
Authorize Health & Safety Officers
 Entrance management
 Maintaining Personal Protection
Protocol under all circumstances
 Traumatic stress management
© 2014 Applied Veterinary
Technologies Europe AB

7. lessons learnt
- Traumatic stress -
 Public opinion protested fiercely against mass
culling of poultry, causing tremendous pressure on
veterinarians, responders and offcials
 > 10 serious car accidents occurred at the end of
shifts, caused by fatigue and careless driving,
injuring and killing veterinarians and responders
 Number of suicides among farmers increased with
600% during the time of outbreaks
 Non-state veterinarians went on strike during the
outbreak, refusing to kill birds by suffocation,
arguing that it is unethical and inhumane
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© 2014 Applied Veterinary
Technologies Europe AB

8. Unexpected events and
emotionally intense circumstances
 A traumatic event is a shocking and
emotionally overwhelming situation in
which an individual perceives actual or
threatened death or serious injury
 Workers responding to an HPAI outbreak
may experience traumatic stress
 Reactions to traumatic events will vary,
ranging from relatively mild to severe
 It is very common for people to experience
anxiety, terror, shock, feel upset, or feel
emotional numbness and personal or
social disconnection
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© 2014 Applied Veterinary
Technologies Europe AB

9. Symptoms and negative effects
 Physical illness (headaches, fatigue)
 Unable to function normally on the job
 Depression
 Anxiety
 Making efforts to avoid reminders of a traumatic event
 Marital and family conflict
 Hostility and aggression
 Death through suicide as a reaction to overwhelming
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© 2014 Applied Veterinary
Technologies Europe AB

10. Coping with Traumatic Stress
Useful techniques to reduce stress when participating in a
response:
 Take a break from the news
 Pace yourself and take frequent rest breaks
 Pay attention to each other’s state of mind
 Be conscious of those around you; responders who are
exhausted, feeling stressed, or even temporarily distracted
may place themselves and others at risk
 Maintain your daily schedule as normally as possible
 Drink plenty of fluids such as water and juices
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© 2014 Applied Veterinary
Technologies Europe AB

11. Summary
 Limit the number of responders and their
span of control
 Appoint health & safety officers to oversee
the decision making process and the
reactions of responders
 Don’t allow responders into the infected
area when they are stressed or have
underlying medical problems
 Create simple and clear –enforceable –
instructions
 Upkeep personal protection intact under
all circumstances
© 2014 Applied Veterinary
Technologies Europe AB
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12. Question and Answer
Reflection:
What’s on your mind?
 12
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Org.nr: 556792-1944 - Phone: +44 7452 272 358- E-mail: harm.kie@gmail.com