Texas Vet New-Hire Compliance Forms

Safety-plan acknowledgments

Texas does not operate an OSHA-approved state plan. Federal OSHA states: "Texas is not an OSHA-approved State Plan, and is under federal OSHA jurisdiction which covers most private sector workers within the state". The federal requirements in this plan are therefore the applicable occupational safety standards for a private Texas veterinary practice — there are no state-plan additions to layer on top. ¹

Controlled-substance access and records

Storage standard. TBVME requires all Schedule I–V stock to be "stored in a securely locked, substantially constructed cabinet or security cabinet" and bars access to CS storage areas "except those authorized agents required for efficient operations". Apply this standard in the storage and security section. The rule text as archived also requires a written list of all persons with access to CS storage areas, with the dates individuals are added or removed — keep the access list current. ^{2 3}

Inspections. TBVME conducts unannounced, risk-based inspections of a veterinarian's controlled-substance handling and may examine and copy drug records, invoices, inventory logs, and surgery logs. Keep this SOP and its logs inspection-ready at the practice. ³

Controlled-substance records — 5 years. Texas veterinarians "shall maintain at their place of business records of all scheduled drugs listed in the Texas Controlled Substances Act in their possession. These records shall be maintained for a minimum of five years." The record must be per-drug, "complete, contemporaneous, and legible," and show date of acquisition, quantity purchased, date administered or dispensed, quantity administered or dispensed, client and patient name, and a running balance on hand. The CS log in this kit captures all six elements — keep completed logs, invoices, and inventories for five years, not the federal two. ⁴

X-ray and sharps handling

Texas registers veterinary x-ray machines through the DSHS Radiation Control Program under 25 TAC §289.233: "apply for registration with the agency within 30 days after beginning use of the radiation machine"; mobile services need authorization before providing service. ^{5 6}

Apply with DSHS forms RC 226-2 (machine application), RC 226-1 (business information), RC 42-R (Radiation Safety Officer designation), and RC 204 (Radiation Machine Source Unit). ⁶

Veterinary clinics are squarely covered by Texas's medical-waste rules: the DSHS "special waste from health care-related facilities" rules apply to "clinics, including but not limited to medical, dental, veterinary", so sharps generated by the practice are regulated medical waste under 30 TAC Chapter 326 (TCEQ). The "animal waste" category is narrower — waste from animals intentionally exposed to pathogens — so ordinary animal waste is not medical waste, but your sharps always are. ^{7 8 9 10}