By the Numbers: Study Links Fear Free Certification to Safer Veterinary Workplaces
A new analysis comparing Fear Free Certified and non-certified clinics found significant reductions in bites, scratches and other workplace injuries among certified practices.
5 years
The amount of time that Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practices significantly lowered workplace injury rates than non-certified practices that were reported in a recently released white paper.
The analysis, “Reducing Workplace Injuries in Veterinary Medicine: Lower Rates in Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practices”, was conducted by Certified Safety Training (CST), an independent workplace safety firm, and examined self-reported injury data from 82 U.S. veterinary practices between 2020 and 2024.
The findings and methodology were reviewed and validated by a third-party data analytics firm.
307
About 307 veterinary practices are currently recognized as Fear Free Certified Practices. To earn the designation, entire hospital teams must implement Fear Free standards across patient handling, medical procedures and the overall clinic environment to improve the experience for pets, clients and staff.
16,000
More than 16,000 individually certified professionals are currently listed in the Fear Free directory worldwide. These veterinarians, technicians, trainers and pet professionals have completed Fear Free certification programs focused on reducing fear, anxiety and stress in animals during care, handling and everyday interactions.
22%, 24% and 52%
Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practices reported 22% fewer overall workplace injuries and 24% fewer animal bites and scratches, “highlighting meaningful implications for workers’ compensation costs, liability exposure, and overall workplace safety,” according to a release. Beyond direct injury reduction, the analysis also found that Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practices reported 52% fewer professional liability claims than non-certified practices, pointing to potential downstream benefits such as reduced insurance costs, lower administrative burden, and improved team continuity.
Download the white paper findings today.
Photo Credit:
istockphoto.com/VacharapongW
istockphoto.com/Petra Richli
