This training course was based upon guidelines by:

• AAALAC (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care) International
• NIOSH ALERT
  • Preventing Asthma in Animal Handlers
• National Research Council
  • Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and
  • Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals

In addition to training guidelines, regulatory agencies require employees to understand the hazards of the workplace:

• OSHA Regulations
• The Code of Federal Regulations
• Florida Administrative Codes
• RCRA - Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations
  • The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is the public law that creates the framework for the proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste

Why is training needed?

• Ensure that animal workers understand potential occupational hazards.
• Inform animal workers how they can protect against the potential workplace hazards.

• Animal Allergens
• Bites, scratches, heavy lifting, noise, dust
• Exposure to chemical agents used in research animals
• Exposure to biological agents (infectious agents) used in research animals

Potential for work injuries is assessed by the animal care worker supervisor, and appropriate training or instructions are provided for:

• Scratches and bites
• Hearing loss
• Back injuries

Researchers may treat animals with biological agents that could cause disease in humans if transmitted.

• By bites or scratches
• By excretion into the bedding
• By exhalation from the animal
• From animal secretions

Some agents that are used by researchers:

• Adeno-associated virus (AAV)
• Pseudorabies virus (PRV)
• Recombinant Herpes-Simplex virus (rHSV) Vector

Researchers may treat animals with chemicals that can be harmful to humans handling animals or bedding when:

• Excreted in urine or feces into bedding.
• Leaked from the injection site onto animal fur or into bedding.
• Exhaled from animal during respiration.
• Exposure risk during preparation and administration of chemical agent to animal

Be informed - In addition to the cage card, review the posted AHCF for information related to handling animals and bedding from experiments utilizing chemicals and biological agents.

How can you be exposed?

• On the job exposure or occupational exposure
  • Direct contact - Contact with research animals that have been exposed to hazardous materials
  • Indirect contact - Animals fluid or waste (in bedding) that may contain trace amounts of hazardous materials
  • Exposure risk during preparation and administration of chemical agent to animal

What are the potential routes of exposure?

• Primary Routes
  Inhalation of air containing hazardous materials particles and/or direct contact with skin
• Secondary Route
  contamination from animals that have been in contact with other materials such as:
  • Countertops, floors,
  • Clothes, people,
  • Cages, bedding, etc.

What activities might result in potential exposure?

• Changing animals from dirty to clean cages
• Dumping soiled beddings from cages
• Tasks that generate dust, such as dry broom sweeping, cage cleaning

Wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

• Scrubs and lab coats
• Proper shoes - complete foot protection
• Disposable gloves
• Eye protection
• Aprons, rubber gloves or boots when specified
• Hearing protection if needed
• Respirators (N-95) if needed

• Use appropriate technique when handling animals
• Monitor animal health
• Discuss concerns with supervisor
• Report incidents and injuries

• Treat ALL animals and animals waste as if it is potentially hazardous
• Follow established operating procedures and safety guidelines
• Anticipate risks and know what to do in case of an injury or exposure
• Report all incidents

• Frequent hand washing
• Removing PPE when entering “clean” areas and as needed
• Keep work areas clean
• No eating, drinking, applying cosmetics, handling contact lens except in approved areas

• Ensure disposal guidelines are being follow
• Use appropriate containers
• Containers are properly label and packaged
• Containers are stored correctly

If exposure occurred:

• Ask co-workers for assistance
• Clean the exposed area with soap and water
• For eye exposure - use eye-wash or flush eye with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes
• For mouth exposure - rinse with plenty of water
• Notify supervisor for counseling and to determine proper reporting requirements
• If necessary, a confidential medical evaluation and follow-up will be made available

For Emergency:

• Alert your co-workers
• Life threatening, call 911
• Have the SDS and name of exposed chemical/agent readily available for medical personnel

• Notify your supervisor so it can be followed up with Worker’s Compensation and counseling
• Contact AmeriSys
• Complete an Accident Investigation Report and forward it to HR Worker’s Compensation, within 48 hours of the accident

For concerned exposure to a hazardous substance:

• Notify your supervisor so it can be followed up with the occupational health physician for counseling
• Have SDS and name of exposed chemical/agent readily available for physician for counseling

• Medical exams are performed by a licensed physician
• The physician is given information about job duties, hazards present, and PPE use