OHSP APPENDIX II: Occupational Health Procedures for Animal Care and Use Personnel

A. Introduction

"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 for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council, March 27, 1996)

The University’s leadership recognizes the special requirements for safety in the animal facility. The university has designed the animal facility and established operational practices and procedures to take into account these special requirements.

The success of the health and safety program resides with the primary staff as with all safety practices. The operational and day-to-day responsibility of maintaining a healthy and safe environment in the animal facility rests with the appropriate Principal Investigators, Deans, Directors and the OHSP Director.

Any course that has live animals students must be notified of the level of risk for each class. If the student volunteers in the lab, they also must be included.

In general, the university program uses well-characterized agents and animals, which pose a minimal, potential hazard to animal, care, staff and the environment in which they are used. Species currently used are fish, and rodents. Except as outlined in the CDC/NIH 1993 publication Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, the university animal facility is Animal Biosafety Level 1 (ABSL-1) in fish and rodent. All facilities, procedures, and practices implemented at the university are in accord with ABSL-1 or higher.

Operational procedures are in place to ensure all personnel who work in the animal facility follow safe practices.

B. Basis of OHSP Design and Risk Assessment
The Occupational Health and Safety Program for Animal Care and Use Personnel and other at-risk personnel is designed based on the:
• Species of research animals and their associated potential hazards.
• Biological, chemical, or physical agents used during the conduct of animal activities.
• Risk assessment of each animal activity, including associated support activities (e.g. cage washing, inhalation of dust or aerosols, lifting of heavy equipment and supplies, etc.).
• Frequency and duration of an individual's exposure.

The actual risk assessment and final Occupational Health and Safety Program design are based on input from persons knowledgeable in occupational health and safety, biosafety, and radiation safety (if applicable). The program includes both preventive as well as diagnostic and treatment features, designed with due consideration to the recommendations and guidelines of, and at a minimum, the
(1.) NRC Occupational Health and Safety In the Care and Use of Research Animals, National Academy Press, 1997).
(2.) CDC-NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 1993, 3rd Edition. HHS Publication No. (CDC) 93-8395, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office)
(3.) OSHA Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR).

The overall OHSP addresses all applicable hazards including physical hazards, biological hazards, chemical hazards, and radiological hazards, and is reviewed and modified based on the introduction or identification of new potential hazards, and no less then semi-annually.

All personnel deemed at risk are informed of and offered participation in the university occupational health and safety program based on hazards posed by the animals and materials; exposure intensity, duration and frequency; susceptibility of personnel; and the workplace history of occupational illness and injury. This includes all personnel having direct and/or indirect contact with laboratory animals, unfixed animal tissues or fluids, and those who work in animal housing areas including, but not necessarily limited to, animal caretakers, animal technicians, investigators, veterinarians, facilities maintenance engineers, housekeepers, security, and other staff. Ultimately, an individual's degree of participation in the university OHSP is based on potential risks.

C. OHSP Basic Elements
The basic elements of the Occupational Health and Safety Program for animal care and use personnel consist of a Medical Component and Training - Action Component.

Medical Component - Medical Evaluation and Preventive Medicine for Personnel
The University has a medical program that responds to the specific risks and hazards of on-going laboratory activities. Its objectives include the prevention of disease and compliance with all applicable rules and regulations. The Animal Facility environment represents special health risks therefore special procedures have been implemented to address these risks.

The medical program is designed and facilitated by qualified individuals such as licensed occupational medical physicians or nurse practitioners as well as university employee(s) with expertise in biosafety within the research environment.

Medical evaluations and procedures relevant to the university OHSP are:
· Available at no cost to employees.
· Provided at a reasonable time and place.
· Performed or supervised by a physician or licensed health care professional as determined by GMU.
· Employees not wishing to participate in the OHSP must sign a declination form. Any eligible employee may revoke the declination decision and decide to enter the program at anytime during their active employment.

Based on the resident laboratory animal species (e.g., Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus), the medical evaluations for at risk personnel include:
· A medical evaluation and history (Attachment: Confidential Medical Information: Significant Biological Agent or Animal Contact Health Surveillance Questionnaire).
· Pulmonary function evaluation and testing by the designated Medical Review Officer (MRO) at no cost to the employee.
· Appropriate immunity testing, immunization boosters and prophylactic immunizations, as deemed appropriate to the job responsibilities, at no cost to the employee. These include, but are not limited to tuberculosis skin testing, tetanus boosters, and rabies.
· Annual physicals.
· Policies and facilities that promote cleanliness.
· Provisions for treating and documenting job-related injuries and illnesses. All workplace injuries and/or illness, no matter how minor, must be reported to the office of Occupational Health (OH), Human Resources and Payroll. The Occupational Health Office will file a claim of a work-related accident with the appropriate agency.
· Post exposure incident evaluation (bites, scratches, sharps sticks, mucous membrane exposure, animal-related injuries, physical or mechanical injuries, allergy symptoms, etc.).

These evaluations are conducted by contacting the OHSP Director at 993-2595.

Medical groups providing medical evaluations and treatment of possible work-related injuries/illness are:
Washington Occupational Health Associates Prince William Occupational Health
Suite 410 8700 Sudley Road
1120 19th Street, NW 8700 Manassas, VA 20110
Washington, DC 20036 (703) 369-8000
Corporate Healthcare Services
5510 Alma Lane
Springfield, VA 22151

Medical Documentation with regard to employer paid for examinations, immunizations, etc. will be kept on file in the Occupational Health Office and is the property of GMU.

Personal Hygiene

The minimum recommended procedures include the provision of disposable or non-disposable outer clothes in anterooms and animal rooms including lab coats, booties or dedicated shoes, gloves, masks, safety glasses, etc.; sinks in animal rooms, surgery rooms and outside clean room for washing hands; and showers in the men’s and women’s rooms. It is recognized that current animal laboratories are located in facilities not specifically designed to hold animals that local adjustments to the minimum recommended personal hygiene program are necessary. However, every reasonable effort should be made to provide animal care and use staff with an appropriate level of protective equipment.

The following rules apply regardless of the state of the facility

· Eating, drinking, smoking or applying cosmetics in animal housing or use areas is not allowed.
· Storage of eating or drinking items (dishes, cups, etc) is not allowed in the lab.
· Animals may not be housed outside of the central animal facility (i.e. in labs) unless alternative housing arrangements have been approved by the IACUC.
· Animals may not be kept outside the housing area for more than 24 hours.

Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment

All staff working with animals must wear disposable or dedicated outer covering over street clothes before entering animal rooms and when working with animals in the animal facility. Contaminated laboratory clothing must not leave the designated laboratory clean room and must be placed in an appropriately labeled container. Laboratory clothing must not leave the animal facility and can not allowed to be laundered at home.

• Place disposable or dedicated outer covering over street clothes before entering animal rooms and when working with animals in the animal.

• Wear safety glasses at all times in the animal facility and when handling animals or their tissues or fluids.

• Gloves must be worn when handling animals, tissues or fluids.

• Contaminated gloves should never come in contact with door handles, faucets, other equipment and surfaces and be removed properly and placed in the appropriate waste receptacle.

• Personnel should avoid touching exposed areas of skin, face, eyes, and mouth with contaminated gloves.

• Mask or agency approved respirators must be worn in animals rooms and when handling animals.

Work Control Practices

· Handle contaminated or infected substances so as to minimize aerosols.
· Implement additional safety precautions as appropriate for specific hazardous agents during the conduct of animal care and use activities.
· Disinfect and decontaminate all work surfaces daily, and after any spill of animal related material.
· Thoroughly wash hands with appropriate disinfectant before and after handling animals.
· Prior to leaving the animal facility be sure to wash hands with the appropriate disinfectant and follow appropriate decontamination procedures.
· Remove outer covering prior to leaving the animal facility
· Discard disposable outer covering and frequently launder non-disposable outer clothing using an outside contract service or in-house laundry equipment (i.e. do not launder at home).
· Follow the established injury, animal bite and scratch protocol in the event of a sustained injury, animal bite or scratch or other potentially compromising incident.
· Report any animal bite, scratch or injury or symptoms of allergy or illness to the OSHP Director as soon as possible.
· Implement additional safety precautions as appropriate for specific hazardous agents during the conduct of animal care and use activities.

Minimizing and Reporting Allergies, Bites, Scratches and Other Injuries
Prior to handling animals, all university animal users must be either deemed proficient or trained in the proper methods of handling and restraining the species of animals proposed for use in research. Training in handling and restraining techniques ensures not only the safe and humane handling of animals but also minimizes the risk of an inflicted bite or scratch or other injury from the animal. All university animal users must be trained in the immediate and subsequent actions to take in the event of animal related incident.

In addition to animal bites or scratches, incident reporting encompasses other directly or indirectly related incidents that may occur within the animal facility or while performing animal care or use related activities including:

· Physical injuries (e.g., caused by lifting heavy materials or equipment, use of repetitive movements during animal husbandry or experimental protocols).

· Mechanical injuries (e.g., caused by facility equipment, broken glassware, sharps, heat sources).
· Chemical injuries (e.g., caused by chemical disinfectants, reagent).

· Symptoms possibly indicative of allergic reaction (e.g., sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, hives, rashes, anaphylaxis.)

· Biohazardous agent exposure (e.g., direct contact, inhalation).

· Any other remarkable incident, condition or circumstance that impairs or diminishes individual well-being or performance.

The “Animal Facility Injury, Allergy, Bite and Scratch Protocol” is reviewed with all university employees that may be involved in animal care and use activities. It describes the action and the reporting that must take place in the event of an animal related incident. See Appendix III – “Animal Facility Injury, Allergy and Animal Bite and Scratch Protocol.”

First-Aid Kits
At least one first aide kit must be available in the animal facility in the event of an injury requiring immediate first aide. Appropriate kits must be available based on potential exposure

· The kit should be checked once a month to make sure it is stocked and supplies are not outdated.
· The kit should also contain emergency numbers for getting help and reporting injuries.
· Reporting forms should be provided with the kit.

Hazardous Agents

The OHSP Director assures appropriate training is provided to individuals who participate in animal research activities involving the use of potentially infectious, hazardous and/or radioactive materials. This training includes the proper procedures for handling, using, and disposing of hazardous materials.

The use of potentially hazardous agents and the need for additional precautions by animal care personnel during animal care activities are brought to the attention of the OSHP Director and the IACUC prior to initiating such procedures.

Waste Handling and Disposal
The Director of Laboratory Safety provides training to or ensures proficiency of individuals in the safe handling and disposal of materials classified as hazardous or radioactive.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The Director of Laboratory Safety provides training to or ensures proficiency of individuals in the proper donning and use of personal protective equipment for both personal safety and animal safety. In addition, Personal Protective Clothing requirements must be posted in the animal facility.

Anterooms, where available, are to be supplied with appropriate PPE, which may include disposable or non-disposable gowns or lab coats, gloves, dust masks or respirators, booties, head bonnets, and/or safety glasses.

Blood-borne Pathogens
The OHSP Director provides training to or ensures proficiency of individuals in the proper procedures for working with potential blood-borne pathogens.

Allergy

The greatest health risk to individuals working with rodents and rabbits is allergy development. These facilities pose risk of allergen exposure such as that from bedding, animal dander, urine and saliva. Allergy risk can be minimized by use of gloves and dust masks at all times when working with animals.
The use of laminar flow hoods during the conduct of animal manipulations can minimizes both risks. In addition, the use of disposable supplies and the removal of protective clothing and equipment prior to leaving the animal facility also serves to minimize these risk.

Zoonoses

While zoonotic risks (transmission of disease from animal to man) do exist, the risk is rare from laboratory rodents. However, the risk of acquiring zoonotic disease increases substantially if an individual is immunocompromised. Development of allergies is far the greater risk posed by rodents. Fish pose even lesser risk.