IACUC Occupational Health
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN ANIMAL CARE AND USE
Overview and Purpose
The purpose of the Occupational Health and Safety Program (OHSP) is to provide a mechanism whereby Kent State University can fulfill and manage its institutional responsibility to provide a safe workplace for KSU employees and students involved in the care and use of animals used for research, teaching, and/or testing. The program is designed using the principles of hazard identification, risk assessment, risk management, hazard/risk communication and training, and preventive medicine.
Definitions
Direct contact means that you handle animals, perform procedures on animals, or handle their waste. Examples of persons with direct contact include Principal Investigators (PIs), laboratory staff, students performing animal research, and animal care personnel.
Indirect contact means that you do not touch animals or animal tissue and do not handle animal waste. Examples of persons with indirect contact may include University Facilities Maintenance (UFM) personnel, police, security, and administrators.
UFM provides training to ancillary personnel using a guide that was created by Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) and the IACUC.
Applicability
All personnel involved in the direct care and/or use of vertebrate animals used for research, teaching, or testing at KSU shall be enrolled in the OHSP and must complete the program requirements prior to gaining access and exposure to laboratory animals and facilities.
Personnel working with vertebrates in field settings or with species other than laboratory rodents are required to develop an OHSP supplement that is reviewed by the IACUC, health and safety professionals, and anyone else that may be appropriate.
The IACUC may withhold protocol approval until all personnel involved with the protocol have enrolled in the OHSP and completed applicable assessments and/or training.
Personnel engaged in the AVMA Accredited Veterinary Technology Programs complete program specific health and safety requirements but participation in the OHSP is not mandatory. The Veterinary Technology Programs are not part of the University’s PHS Assurance.
Components
The components of the OHSP include:
Identification of hazards and risk assessment,
Training, and
Medical evaluation and preventive medicine.
Responsibilities
The IACUC is responsible for applying and implementing policies, procedures and programs in accordance with the standards published in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (8th Edition), PHS Policy, the regulations as defined in the Animal Welfare Act, and Kent State University policies.
Individuals are responsible for any costs (i.e., medical follow-up, Tetanus immunization, Rabies vaccination, etc.) incurred.
Office of Research Compliance (ORC) is responsible for monitoring compliance and overall coordination of the OHSP in relation to IACUC protocols.
Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of comprehensive safety programs that facilitate the safe use of biological, chemical, and radiological materials in laboratories.
PIs/Instructors and/or Facility Supervisors/Managers are responsible for ensuring that all personnel under their supervision are enrolled in the OHSP, are trained, and are following safe practices and procedures in the animal laboratories/workspaces.
The Attending Veterinarian (AV) is responsible for advising the IACUC, EH&S, and the ORC regarding animal zoonoses/hazards/risks.
Participants are responsible for understanding their role, safety and research procedures, risks involved with animal care and use, and costs associated with their participation in the program.
Program Enrollment and Participation
Prior to gaining access to the animal laboratories, all personnel having direct contact with animals or animal waste must:
Complete all OHSP training, including:
Online Occupational Health and Safety for Personnel Involved in Animal Care and Use
CITI Online Animal Care and Use
Other training as deemed necessary by PI/Supervisor, IACUC, and/or health professionals
Basic Laboratory Safety Course and other courses as deemed necessary by EH&S.
General animal facility training/orientation
Laboratory/Protocol specific procedures training
Complete the online preplacement training and evaluation form to determine if medical clearance is needed prior to direct contact with animals.
Medical clearance required:
Complete OHSP Enrollment and Exposure form (A) and review it with their PI or supervisor to identify the occupational hazards/risks for which they will be exposed to in the workplace.
Complete the Health History form (B) and visit a licensed medical provider to determine if any restrictions are required.
Return the completed OHSP Clearance form (C) to supervisor prior to beginning work in the animal facility. For personnel named on an IACUC protocol, a copy of the Clearance form must be provided to the Principal Investigator and ORC for inclusion into the IACUC records.
Those that have not received a Tetanus immunization within the last 10 years are required to receive an immunization prior to animal contact.
Those that do not require medical clearance are encouraged to receive a medical evaluation.
Personnel having only indirect contact with research animals and do not enter the vivarium on a regular basis, or that have infrequent exposure to research animals are not required, but are encouraged to participate in the OHSP.
Ongoing assessment and surveillance
Online preplacement training and evaluation form at least every three years, upon a change in work or health status, upon recommendation from an occupational health practitioner, the IACUC, university EH&S personnel, or other medical professional.
Continued programmatic and project specific health and safety assessments are conducted based on research and facility needs, concern reports, preplacement and continuing evaluation metrics, professional feedback, and other relevant assessments.
