Animal Care and Use Occupational Health and Safety policy

This policy is based on the Animal Care and Use manual and is intended to eliminate, reduce or control occupational hazards and prevent adverse health effects due to animal use by identifying risks, implementing safety controls and providing training.

Personnel with frequent or substantial contact with animals have a higher potential of adverse health effects. For these personnel it is required to complete a risk assessment form and health screening questionnaire. Pre-exposure immunization is recommended and offered to people at risk of exposure to specific agents like hepatitis B virus (if work­ing with human blood or human tissues, cell lines, or stocks) or rabies virus.

Animal Care and Use Risk Assessment form indicate the species, the level of exposure and facilities for animal use. This information will be used to identify appropriate personal protective equipment.

Baseline Occupational Health Questionnaire will be evaluated confidentially by a health professional – Baseline Occupational Health Questionnaire.

All staff with frequent or substantial contact with animals is obligated to complete Occupational Health and Safety training module which describes common risks to health and safety in animal facilities. This training module also includes specific risks and symptoms of developing allergies to animals and how to mitigate these risks