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How to Avoid Dog Bites, Allergies, and Dog Days in the Workplace
01 Apr, 2022 WorkersCompensation.com
I like big mutts, I cannot lie, but when it comes to workplace safety, pups can be doggone dangerous! While a support animal in the workplace can be good for morale, keep in mind the paw-lenty of problems associated with pooches. Some dogs can bite while others trigger allergies.
DOG BITES
More than 4 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs each year. Children are the most common victims, but employees who work outside, enter customers' properties, or work with animals are also at risk. At a minimum, these employees should be provided with awareness training on the topic. Learning the triggers that lead to aggression can often help prevent dog bites. It’s also crucial employees be trained on what to know if bitten or attacked.
If a dog lunges at you, experts say avoid screaming and be as quiet as possible so as not to excite the animal even more. Stand still, look down, and break eye contact. Staring down an aggressive dog is considered a challenge. Don’t run, jump up and down, or flail your limbs. If a dog knocks you down, curl up into a ball and protect your head.
If an aggressive dog attacks your own dog, try to find an object like a purse, umbrella, or even a shoe, to put between them. Don’t use any part of your body to try to part them. Unfortunately, if you have your own dog with you (such as at the vet), you may have to choose which of you stays safe. If you pick up your small pooch, that may encourage the attacking dog to jump up on you, injuring you and your pet.
Once the attack is over, immediately get yourself away from the scene if you’re outdoors. If the injuries are severe, go to the emergency room or take your dog to the veterinarian. If not, be sure to wash the wounds with soap and water to prevent infection and report the bite to the authorities. If it’s possible to track the attacking dog’s rabies shot record, do so. If not, speak to your doctor about possible prevention.
DOG-RELATED ALLERGIES
Doggie dander can also trigger life-threatening reactions in people with asthma. If those allergies are severe enough, an office dog is enough to force some employees to resign. In an era where employers are doing their best to keep workers safe from COVID, worrying about the health dangers associated with dogs may be biting off more than you care to chew.
So what can you do if your co-worker’s canine is giving you post-nasal drip or worse? There are actually several steps you can try, most of which require some understanding from your boss.
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Work in separate areas of the building
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Place a portable air purifier at each workstation
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Use flex scheduling, so the affected employees don’t work at the same time
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Ask the employee with the dog to use dander care on the animal regularly
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Use alternatives to in-office work like phone, email, and video-conferencing
Employers may be legally required to allow the service dog in the office due to the Americans With Disabilities Act. It’s a delicate balancing act for them to follow the law while doing what’s best for other workers on the job. Finding a solution that works for everyone is preferable to resorting to legal action.
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
Most of the country is embroiled in hot weather - too hot for even a dog. Southern states especially are seeing July and August temperatures certainly worthy of the “dog days” moniker. The tips below sound simple, but each day we see employees suffering from the effects of the heat and humidity. Take a moment to make sure:
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Employees are provided with enough water and given appropriate breaks to deal with the heat.
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Employees' duties are rotated if necessary.
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Workers have opportunities to get out of direct sunlight - shade under trees, in vehicles with air conditioning, or inside cooled buildings as often as needed.
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All employees are properly dressed to include broad-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen is applied on any exposed skin.
OSHA provides extensive resources for preventing heat-related injuries.
The precautions you take now can prevent your employees from being seriously injured, and save your own skin as well.
Chen Zhan began designing office spaces when he noticed the women he worked with donning sweaters, while the men continually turned the temperature down. He now consults with companies around the globe to improve company performance. Sometimes it’s as simple as adding some space heaters and standing desks.
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