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Executive Summary: The requirement for an occupational health and safety program, including preventive medicine and emergency treatment, are required of grant-receiving institutions by the PHS and therefore by Emory University policy as articulated by our Trustees (http://whsc.emory.edu/animal_research_position_statement.cfm). In 2005, the university hired a physician with infectious disease expertise to assess risks and prescribe a program of occupational medicine for research personnel with animal contact at Emory. This is the first step in an overall OHSP for all Emory research personnel. Funding for this program has recently been made available and it is now being implemented. The costs for this program are not charged directly to grants.
The IACUC Guidebook of the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare of the NIH (pages 61-61) states: "A wide range of personnel (e.g., animal care staff, investigators, technical staff, students, volunteers, engineers, housekeepers, security officers, and maintenance personnel who care for or use animals, their tissues or fluids, or who may be exposed to them as a consequence of their job) should be provided the opportunity to participate in the OHSP. The extent and level of participation of personnel in the OHSP should be based on risk assessment, including: hazards posed by the animals and materials used; exposure intensity, duration, and frequency; susceptibility of personnel; and history of occupational illness and injury in the workplace. Health and safety specialists should be involved in the assessment of risks associated with hazardous activities."
The "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" used by the NIH and PHS states: "An occupational health and safety program must be part of the overall animal care and use program (CDC and NIH 1993; CFR 1984a,b,c; PHS Policy). The program must be consistent with federal, state, and local regulations and should focus on maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. The program will depend on the facility, research activities, hazards, and animal species involved. The National Research Council publication Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals (NRC In press) contains guidelines and references for establishing and maintaining an effective, comprehensive program (also see Appendix A). An effective program relies on strong administrative support and interactions among several institutional functions or activities, including the research program (as represented by the investigator), the animal care and use program (as represented by the veterinarian and the IACUC), the environmental health and safety program, occupational-health services, and administration (e.g., human resources, finance, and facility-maintenance personnel)...Development and implementation of a program of medical evaluation and preventive medicine should involve input from trained health professionals, such as occupational-health physicians and nurses. Confidentiality and other medical and legal factors must be considered in the context of appropriate federal, state, and local regulations. A health-history evaluation before work assignment is advisable to assess potential risks for individual employees. Periodic medical evaluations are advisable for people in some risk categories. An appropriate immunization schedule should be adopted. It is important to immunize animal-care personnel against tetanus. In addition, pre-exposure immunization should be offered to people at risk of infection or exposure to such agents as rabies or hepatitis B virus. Vaccination is recommended if research is to be conducted on infectious diseases for which effective vaccines are available. Specific recommendations can be found in the CDC and NIH publication Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (1993)."
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Frequently Asked Questions, found at: http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/olaw/faqs.htm#instresp_2. There is a specific FAQ: What is required for an occupational health and safety program?: "The Guide states that 'An occupational health and safety program must be part of the overall animal care and use program' and provides an outline of the principal requirements for such a program. Institutional research programs vary regarding the species used, the potential hazards presented, and the biological, chemical, or physical agents employed in research. Thus, the institution must base its health program on an assessment of the risks present in its particular animal research and support program. Risk assessment and the implementation of health programs should rely heavily on input from persons knowledgeable in occupational safety and health, biosafety, and radiation safety, and include both preventive as well as diagnostic and treatment features. Guidance regarding basic health program elements, recommendations concerning zoonoses surveillance and prophylactic immunizations, and advice on which categories of personnel to include in light of potential exposure to risks is provided in the reference at A4. Institutions should make clear that personal medical records are confidential documents and ensure that their contents are treated appropriately. To avoid placing individuals and institutions at risk, prior clearance to work in specific areas or conduct specific activities can be provided by safety and health, biosafety, and/or radiation safety professionals. If individuals decline to participate in the health program, institutions can restrict their participation to activities that pose no identified occupational health-related risks as determined by a health professional. See the NRC publication Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals for additional information." |
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