Animal Care and Use Occupational Health Program
1.0 Regulatory Authority
California Code of Regulations Title 8 sections 1510, 1511,
and 3203 enforced by the California Occupational and Safety
Health Agency (Cal/OSHA). These regulations provide guidelines
for the general protection of personnel who work in laboratory
animal facilities or have substantial animal contact. The
National Institute of Health (NIH) Public Health Policy on
Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (September 1986)
and 9 Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter A govern animal
care and use at the federal level.
2.0 Policy
It is the policy of California State University, Fullerton
to protect employees and students from occupational injuries
and illnesses. The overall safety of faculty, staff, and students
is the main focus of this program so as to not subject them
to avoidable risks and/or accidental injury or illness. No
employee or student will be required to perform any task that
would be considered unsafe or unreasonably hazardous.
To accomplish this, each employee or student that works in
an animal laboratory or has substantial animal contact shall
be provided with the proper materials, equipment, and training
in accordance with federal and state requirements. This program
also follows the guidelines set forth by the NIH.
3.0 Purpose
The purpose of this program is to establish a uniform set
of guidelines for the handling and use of laboratory and wild
animals at California State University, Fullerton. This program
will provide information regarding the required pre-employment
and periodic physicals and vaccinations, personal protective
equipment, training, mechanism for reporting injuries and
illnesses, zoonoses surveillance, and monitoring for biological,
physical and chemical exposures.
This program will establish regulatory authority and responsibility
of persons designated to implement and manage this program.
It will assist in safeguarding the overall health and safety
of the employees that may come in contact with laboratory
and wild animals.
4.0 Scope
The scope of the Occupational Health Program at California
State University, Fullerton focuses on all employees and employed
students who utilize vertebrate animals for research and instruction.
5.0 Responsibilities
5.1 The Office of Environmental Health and Instructional Safety EH&IS
- Develop and implement the Occupational Health program
with consultation through the Institutional Animal Care
and Use Committee (IACUC). Provide copies of the
program to departments.
- Arrange pre-employment, annual, and termination physicals
as needed. Develop immunization schedules.
- Provide assistance to individual faculty departments concerning
implementation of the program.
- Maintain records of immunizations and physicals.
- Provide consultation and investigative action in the event
of injury or illness.
- Arrange for the disposal of animal carcasses and specimens.
- Conduct exposure monitoring for personnel likely to become
exposed to hazardous chemicals or radioactive materials
through animal related research.
5.2 The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
- For the purpose of this program, forward protocols and
proposals to EH&IS based on perceived health risk to
affected employees.
- Consult with EH&IS on additional precautionary measures
necessary for animal research and forward proposed experimental
chemical and radioactive use information to EH&IS.
- The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee may suspend
a protocol if a serious violation of the Occupational Health
program occurs.
5.3 Principal Investigators
- Provide and document specialized training to employees
and students under their direction.
- Ensure this program is followed by affected employees
and students under their direction.
- Report injuries, i.e., scratches and bites, or abnormal
illnesses of employees and students to EH&IS.
5.4 Director of Animal Care
- Conduct inspections of work and animal housing areas
and associated equipment to ensure compliance with CSUF's
Injury and Illness Prevention Program.
- Provide and document training to employees and students
under their direction.
- Ensure this program is followed by affected employees
and students under their direction.
- Report injuries, i.e., scratches and bites, or abnormal
illnesses of employees and students to EH&IS.
- Maintain training records.
6.0 Pre-Employment Physicals and Immunizations
6.1 Physical Examinations and Immunizations
Physical examinations and immunizations may be required of
employees and students working at risk positions according
the specifications of
Appendix A.
7.0 Training
An ongoing training program shall be provided which ensures
that all persons working with animals are made aware of the
hazards associated with such work. Principal Investigators
and the Director of Animal Care shall ensure that every employee
and student who works with animals will undergo training annually
that, at a minimum, covers the following information.
- Hazards associated with working with animals.
- Proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
- General and specialized safety procedures.
- Incident reporting - bites, scratches, and unusual illnesses
- Record keeping.
8.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The Principal Investigator is responsible for arranging personal
protective equipment. The provider shall ensure that this
equipment is properly maintained and cleaned as necessary
to ensure proper function of this equipment. Storage of this
equipment shall be in a designated area. Proper PPE may include
such items as clothing, eye protection, hand & foot protection,
and respiratory protection.
The level of PPE required for animal handling is dependent
upon the degree of hazard present and shall be determined
by the Principal Investigator in conjunction with the IACUC
and EH&IS. The minimum level of PPE necessary when handling
animals must include gloves and a lab coat. When handling
an animal infected naturally or experimentally with a class
two or greater agent, respiratory protection must be donned
in addition to the minimum requirements. Respiratory protection
is required for handling wild indigenous rodents and associated
materials such as bedding or cages.
9.0 Personal Hygiene and Housekeeping
The following personal hygiene issues apply to all workers
exposed to animals and associated materials:
- No food or drink, smoking or applying of cosmetics is
allowed where animals are used or housed.
- No animals shall be kept overnight anywhere except in
the designated animal rooms.
- Gloves shall be worn at all times when handling animals.
All contaminated or infected substances should be handled
in such a way as to minimize aerosols.
- In order to decrease the risk of contaminating street
clothes and spreading contamination, laboratory coats shall
be worn when working with animals. Lab coats shall be removed
when leaving the work area.
- All work surfaces shall be decontaminated daily and after
any spill of animal related material.
- Hand washing shall be done prior to leaving the laboratory
for any reason.
- Hand to mouth infections must be guarded against by practicing
safe handling techniques.
- Refer to the "Guidelines for Handling Animals in
the Field" for personal hygiene instructions when performing
fieldwork.
10.0 Injury and Illness Reporting
Supervisors and PI's should familiarize themselves with
the procedures described in the IIPP. Since the affected departments
vary with regard to their injury and illness reporting procedure,
these departments shall use the methods prescribed in their
Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). Departmental
IIPPs act as an overlap to the Occupational Safety program
with regard to: responsibilities, inspection procedures, training,
corrective actions, communication and injury/illness reporting.
10.1 Post Incident Procedures
- For minor cuts, bites, and scratches, wash the wound
with running water and apply first aid as necessary.
- If the injury requires immediate treatment, report to
the emergency room of the nearest health care facility.
If injury occurs on campus, contact the Student Health Center.
- In cases where immediate help is needed, phone 911 (278-2515
on cell phones) to summon the rescue squad
(this should be posted in a prominent location near a telephone).
- If you are bitten by an animal that might have rabies
infection, contact your supervisor or principal investigator
immediately for instructions.
- Follow posted procedures for snake bites and provide
specific information to the emergency medical staff. Follow
procedures included with the First Aid/snake bite kit for
incidents which occur in the field.
10.2 Suspected Rabies Infection
- The animal must be confined immediately, kept isolated,
clearly labeled as "rabies suspect" and observed
for a period of 10 days. If the animal is wild, take steps
to capture the suspect animal and use care while transporting
the animal to an observation facility or veterinarian.
- Contact Student Health Services immediately to discuss
the possibilities of rabies inoculations.
10.3 Reporting Injury or Illness
Report all accidents and injuries to appropriate PI immediately,
and complete the "Employee Report of Injury" form
available in all department offices as soon as possible.
11.0 Hazardous Agents and Exposure Monitoring
11.1 Biological Hazard
-
Allergens: A relatively large proportion of the population is susceptible
to allergic reactions resulting from the inhalation of fungal
spores, pollen grains or animal proteins. Low molecular
weight proteins from rats and mice and rabbit dander may
cause acute clinical syndromes in some personnel. The use
of a face mask can reduce or delay these reactions; a respirator
may eliminate them. Individuals should disclose known allergies
to the Principal Investigator before commencing any animal
work. Personnel showing allergic symptoms should contact
EH&IS for advice.
-
Infectious Agents: Experimental protocols involving infectious agents are evaluated
by EH&IS at time of IACUC protocol review to determine
the required degree of containment. Guidelines for handling
infectious agents are provided by the US Center for Disease
Control (CDC). Contact EH&IS for details. These guidelines
specify recommended contaminants for individual agents;
suitable classes of safety cabinets and handling methods
are described. The University can make provision to house
animals for some projects involving biohazardous agents.
Refer to the CSUF Biohazard Safety Program Appendix IV of
the IIPP available at the department office for specific
information on handling and disposal of infectious wastes.
- Zoonotic Diseases: Transmissible diseases such as TB, Herpes simiae, and Q
fever, shall be addressed specifically depending the test
species and scope of the study.
11.2 Chemical Hazards
A discussion of chemical hazards is included in the CSUF
Chemical Hygiene Plan and Hazard Communication program (Appendices
III and
V respectively of the IIPP). For information on any
specific chemical, refer to the
material safety data sheet
(MSDS) obtainable through EH&IS. Manufacturers are legally
required to make MSDSs available (including hazard information)
to anyone submitting a written request.
The IACUC will forward protocol information concerning the
proposed nature of chemical use to the Chemical Hygiene Officer
(CHO) at the time of review. Based on this information, EH&IS
will conduct exposure monitoring if any risk of personnel
exposure is evident and will make recommendations on the protocol
to minimize exposures. Depending on the agent involved, EH&IS
will incorporate these individuals into CSUF's Exposure
Monitoring Program.
- Carcinogens: Operations involving regulated carcinogens are strictly
subject to Cal/OSHA regulations. EH&IS maintains a current
classification of declared carcinogens and detailed regulations
concerning their use. EH&IS requires specific precautions
to contain the inoculation and subsequent excretion of carcinogens.
The formation and excretion of carcinogens from non-carcinogenic
precursors (e.g., the urinary excretion of nitrosamines
following streptozotocin inoculation) must also be controlled.
The use of disposable caging minimizes the problems and
risks associated with waste bedding disposal and cage recycling.
Guidelines are provided in the CSUFs Chemical Hygiene
Plan (Appendix III of the IIPP).
- Sterilizing Agents:
Sterilizing agents such as steam and phenolic compounds
are often used in animal care facilities, present potential
physical and health threats. Investigators planning these
agents either in experimental procedures or as decontaminates
must obtain specific instructions the Biosafety Officer.
- Anesthetics and Controlled Substances:
Experimental use of anesthetics and controlled substances
shall be reviewed by the Biosafety Officer for special handling and security
practices.
11.3 Physical Hazards
- Physical Injury
The routine use of heavy equipment and the frequency of
wet, slippery floors increases the element of risk for physical
injuries in animal facilities. All physical injuries, including
wounds and scratches (whether from animal bites or other
causes), should be reported immediately to the Principal
Investigator.
- Radiation Hazards
Direct exposure to acute or chronic radiation sources is
controlled by the University Radiation Safety Committee.
Radioisotope, ionizing and non-ionizing equipment usage
is governed by the Principal Investigator's Radiation
Use Application (RUA) reviewed and approved by the Radiation
Safety Committee. The RUA shall be approved before the protocol
is reviewed by the IACUC.
Risk of radiation exposure comes from the absorption, inhalation,
or ingestion of labeled compounds during animal treatment
or from the handling of subsequently contaminated bedding.
Animals treated with isotopes should be housed in separate
rooms, which should be only wet-cleaned. High levels of
hygiene and the use of separate overalls, dust masks, and
rubber or plastic gloves for each room are essential to
safe working conditions.
Monitoring of personnel exposures to radioactive material
will be conducted by the Radiation Safety Officer. Technical
safety precautions and RUA applications are governed in
the CSUF's Radiation Safety Manual.
Revised: 12/8/2005 SH