A recently released white paper showed that Fear Free Certified veterinary practices reported 22% fewer employee injuries. The report, “Reducing Workplace Injuries in Veterinary Medicine: Lower Rates in Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practices,” presents findings from a five-year retrospective study comparing Fear Free Certified practices to non-certified practices.
According to the white paper, Fear Free practices reported significantly lower injuries in every category measured:
- 24% fewer animal bites and scratches
- 12% fewer needle stick and sharps injuries
- 4% fewer musculoskeletal injuries
- 22% fewer total workplace injuries
- 52% fewer professional liability claims
Data from the American Veterinary Medical Association Professional Liability Insurance Trust shows that approximately 3,200 workers’ compensation claims are filed by veterinary practices each year, with animal-related injuries accounting for around 70% of claims.
“The findings are clear,” said Doug Korn, Fear Free’s chief executive officer. “When we prioritize thoughtful handling, care becomes more predictable. Reducing injuries does more than just protect our teams — it mitigates risk, prevents costly disruptions, and ensures practices run with consistent excellence.”
Calm, cooperative patients mean safer handling for everyone involved, and Fear Free standards include methods that can reduce injury risk for veterinary team members. Mechanisms that can help explain fewer injuries in Fear Free practices include:
- Gentle handling can help reduce fear-based reactions, resulting in fewer bites and scratches from anxious patients.
- Eliminating forceful restraint practices can reduce musculoskeletal injuries, such as back injuries from restraining and lifting patients.
- Calmer patients may be less likely to move suddenly, reducing needle sticks and sharps injuries.
Lowering employee injury risk can translate to significant benefits for veterinary practices. Fewer injuries can result in fewer insurance claims, reduced workers’ compensation costs, and less time lost to decreased productivity and injury-related time off. The results from the white paper suggest that incorporating Fear Free methods can lead to a safer clinic culture, improve morale, and support better staff retention.
The retrospective analysis was conducted by an independent workplace safety agency, Certified Safety Training, and the methodology and findings were validated by a third-party consulting firm. The analysis included workplace injury data from 53 Fear Free Certified practices and 29 non-certified practices collected between 2020 and 2024.
Access the complete white paper.