Occupational Health and Safety Program
All personnel with significant direct or indirect laboratory animal contact must be evaluated for enrollment in an Occupational Health and Safety program. This includes all personnel who work in labs that are official satellite animal facilities. Personnel who work in laboratory rooms where animals are often present are also encouraged to enroll in the medical surveillance program. In addition, personnel and visitors who enter the vivarium on any business may be exposed to allergens. These individuals must also be made aware of their potential exposure. University support staff such as Facilities Management staff, Housekeeping staff, ITSS staff, Public Safety and others need to be informed of the risks of working with animals and medically evaluated when warranted. The Occupational Health and Safety program provides employees with the opportunity to learn about their personal health risks as they relate to their working relationship with animals and to establish a baseline against which future changes in health can be measured. It also has the advantage of providing an opportunity to educate University support staff about animal research. Skin testing to detect sensitivity against animal allergens or a RAST (blood test) may be recommended for some individuals with exposure to animal allergens. Skin testing conducted as part of a medical surveillance program may also include other allergens such as pollens, molds, and pet dander. If these tests are positive, they could indicate the employee's increased risk for development of laboratory animal allergens. Personnel with LAA symptoms that require extensive medical treatment (for example, the use of steroid tablets) or personnel who suffer from repeated asthma attacks after reasonable accommodations have been taken to reduce exposure may have to be reassigned duties or consider leaving the offending job which exposes them to these occupational hazards.
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