Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Animals

Policy

In order to meet Public Health Service (PHS) Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) requirements, all personnel who work with or have direct or indirect contact with laboratory animals must participate in the Animal Care and Use Occupational Health and Safety Program.

The Program consists of four components:

1. Risk Assessment
2. Health Screening Questionnaire
3. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Training
4. Animal Allergy Training

Personnel with frequent or substantial contact with laboratory animals must participate in all components of the Program. Other personnel with less contact may have modified requirements, depending on the risk for adverse health effects.

The aim of the mandatory Animal Care and Use Occupational Health and Safety Program is to promote a safe and healthy work environment at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This program is based upon the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” and is intended to eliminate, reduce, or control hazards and prevent adverse health effects due to animal use by identifying risks, implementing safety controls, and providing training.

Procedure

Enrollment in the program consists of the following:

1. Completing the Animal Care and Use Risk Assessment form which indicates the species, the level of exposure, and facilities for animal use. OHS Program staff will use this information to identify appropriate personal protective equipment and training and determine whether enrollment in additional campus health and safety programs is required.
2. Completing the Health Screening Questionnaire which is evaluated confidentially by a health professional.
3. Completing the basic OHS Training module which describes common risks to health and safety in animal facilities.
4. Completing the Animal Allergies Training module which describes the specific risks and symptoms of developing allergies to animals and how to mitigate those risks.
5. OHS staff will determine whether personnel who need to enter facilities briefly as part of their jobs, but who are not working with animals, are exempt from requirements.

References

• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (2011) Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR). The National Academies Press.