UCSB Occupational Health and Safety
Program for Personnel with Research Animal Contact

The goal of the Occupational Health and Safety Program at UCSB is to prevent occupational injury and illness by avoiding, controlling, or eliminating hazards in the workplace. The emphasis of such a program is the prevention of illness and injury, but it also includes provisions for early diagnosis and treatment when necessary. Additionally, the OHS program is designed to educate animal users about the health issues related to working with animals, including the special concerns of immunocompromised and pregnant individuals.

The IACUC has a role in ensuring that personnel comply with health and safety requirements (e.g., ensuring personnel have received appropriate training, evaluating compliance with standard operating procedures or institutional policy during semiannual facility inspections, etc.)

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals is a widely accepted primary reference on animal care and use. The seventh and latest edition of the Guide, published in 1996, was written under the auspices of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research of the National Academy of Sciences…It states

“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 who have contact with animals. Depending on the species of animal or the amount of animal exposure, the program may not affect all personnel equally. Note that students who are simply enrolled in courses in which animals are used are not covered by these provisions.

Minimally, the Guide says 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.

Medical Evaluation/Risk Assessment:

At UCSB, all personnel who have contact with animals are required to complete an Animal Contact Medical History Form. The confidential form is submitted to the IACUC Office to document that the form has been submitted; it is then forwarded to the Sansum-Santa Barbara Occupational Medical Center for review by an Occupational Physician.

Following the review, the Physician will make an evaluation based upon the information submitted on the Form. There are four possible outcomes of the evaluation:

1) The individual is cleared for participation
2) The individual is cleared for participation with a recommendation in place or completed (thus, the recommendation needs to be met before final clearance is granted)*
3) The individual is required to meet with the Physician for a physical examination prior to making a final recommendation^#
4) Not cleared for participation

*If an individual cannot meet a recommendation, a letter should be submitted to the IACUC Office with an explanation.
^#All appointments with the Physician, if required, should be arranged through the IACUC Office.

All individuals will have a 60-day window to gain full OHS clearance; the 60 days begins when the form is received in the IACUC Office. The individual should receive a letter from the Occupational Physician within 14 days. If a recommendation is required for clearance, confirmation of completion must be submitted to the IACUC Office within this 60-day window.

If a new protocol is being submitted to the IACUC, and personnel are not already listed on a UCSB Protocol Training Roster, the OHS form(s) will be held in the IACUC Office until the Protocol Application is approved. The 60-day window will begin on the day the protocol is approved; the forms, however, must be submitted to the IACUC Office to finalize protocol approval.

Training:

Occupational Health and Safety training includes using the UC Davis Risk Assessment Tool, based on the species and the work being performed and the person involved (http://ehs.ucdavis.edu/animal/health/). Reviewing this web page is part of UCSB’s Basic Training Program. Additional EH & S or Biosafety training may be required, if required by the nature of the project. Custom Training Programs may also need to be established with the Campus Veterinarian, depending on the risks associated with species and/or procedures described in the protocol.

Occupational Health & Safety: Animal Contact Medical History Form