Occupational Health and Safety
"An occupational health and safety program must be part of the overall animal care and
use program....The program will depend on the facility, research activities, hazards, and
animal species involved." (Guide
, p.14)
An effective occupational health and safety program must encompass all personnel that
have contact with animals. Depending on the species of animal or the amount of
animal exposure, the program may not affect all personnel equally.
Minimally, the program should include:
- pre-placement medical evaluation;
- identification of hazards to personnel and safeguards appropriate to the risks;
- appropriate testing and vaccinations;
- training of personnel regarding their duties, hazards, and safeguards;
- policies and facilities that promote cleanliness; and
- provisions for treating and documenting job-related injuries and illnesses.
Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals
, published in
1997 by the National Research Council, includes helpful guidelines and references for
establishing and maintaining an effective and comprehensive program.
Animal Facilities and Husbandry
"Proper housing and management of animal facilities are essential to animal well-being,
to the quality of research data and teaching or testing programs in which animals are
used, and to the health and safety of personnel." (Guide
, p. 21)
A program of animal care and use will include attention to:
- aspects of the physical plant where animals are housed such as location, components, construction, management, and operation;
- the physical and social environment of the animals;
- animal husbandry which encompasses food, water, bedding, sanitation, waste disposal, and pest control;
- animal identification, genetic monitoring, and animal health records; and
- daily observation of and care for animals, including weekends and holidays.
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