🚨 Workplace Safety vs. Workplace Culture: A Real Vet Tech Story 🚨

I once worked in a California veterinary hospital where the summer heat stretched from May to October. The front office was freezing from the AC, but in the back—where we restrained large dogs under exam lights, wore PPE, and worked in tight quarters—the heat was unbearable.

What made it worse? The building owners were the former doctors who had sold to a large veterinary conglomerate, yet refused to upgrade the outdated AC system. Staff were reprimanded for stepping into the tiny break room just to get water, even though 20-30 people were working with only a 5-person break space available.

As a Registered Veterinary Technician, I felt it was my duty to uphold OSHA standards. I advocated for fans, lights off during downtime, and easy water access near the treatment floor, especially during and after post-anesthetic procedures when stepping away isn’t always an option.

The lack of support from management was appalling when I tried to vocalize these concerns. Change felt like conflict to them. But advocating for safe, hydrated, supported staff is not complaining—it’s protecting patients and people.

Ultimately, I started carrying a small water bottle in my scrub pockets, refilling it throughout the day just to avoid reprimands while ensuring I stayed hydrated. It may seem like providing hydration stations or bottled water for staff is an added expense, but the liability and human cost of a staff member suffering heat stroke under your watch is far greater.

🔥 Heat exhaustion is preventable.

💧 Water should be accessible.

🩺 Safety should never be negotiable.

🙋‍♀️ Have you experienced unsafe heat conditions in veterinary or healthcare settings? What solutions worked for your team, and how did you advocate for safety?

Drop your stories and advice below ⬇️ Let’s keep this conversation going for a safer, more sustainable industry for all of us.

#VeterinaryMedicine #WorkplaceSafety #HeatExhaustion #VetTech #Healthcare #AnimalCare #OSHA #WorkplaceWellness