Occupational Health and Safety of Personnel
“An occupational health and safety program must be part of the overall animal care and use program. The program must be consistent with federal, sate, 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.”
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (1996), p14.
Colorado State University is concerned about the safety and welfare of its faculty, staff and students. We are committed to alerting individuals to
potential work-related health risks and counseling them on methods to avoid workplace hazards through a comprehensive
occupational health and safety program. The extent of participation is dependant on the hazards, degree of exposure, the individual’s susceptibility, and history of occupational injury and illness at the workplace. It is critical that everyone follow safe work practices, that supervisors create an appropriate work environment, and that individuals report unsafe working conditions.
Every effort should be made to minimize the risks related to working with animals through careful
identification and evaluation of hazards. Risk is defined as a measure of the likelihood
of a consequence, while a hazard is the inherent danger in a material
or system. Principal investigators and supervisors are responsible for ensuring that all individuals working under their supervision are
trained on and understand safe and proper work procedures,
know the hazards involved and how to avoid or mitigate them.
Risk reduction strategies
- Engineering controls: e.g. biological safety cabinets, fume hoods, directional air flow, correct air pressure differential, hydraulic lifts, dollies, automated watering systems, appropriate floor surfaces and lighting, noise control, access controls; specially designed facilities
- Safe work practices: training, written procedures, administrative controls
- Personal hygiene: frequent hand washing, changing clothing, showers
- No eating, drinking, use of tobacco products, or application of cosmetics in animal use areas or laboratories
- Facility clothes: worn in the facility only, laundered on site or by a commercial laundry service.
- Personal protective equipment: e.g. gloves, masks, face shields, respirators, head covers, coats, coveralls, shoe covers, ear muff, etc may provide additional protection.
As part of the program, a health-history
evaluation and risk assessment by an occupational health professional is essential prior to working with hazardous agents. Immunizations, periodic re-evaluation and zoonosis surveillance may be offered to people in certain risk categories. Individuals are expected to report potential or known exposures including bites, scratches and allergic reactions to their supervisors and to the Occupational Health Services provider.
Injured at Work?
* Report injury to your supervisor
* Complete and submit the “Workers Compensation
Injury Report Form”
* Seek medical attention from the designated
providers listed below
* For life threatening or serious medical
emergencies seek medical attention first, then report the injury to you supervisor as soon as possible
Resources:
Occupational Heath and Safety in the Care and use of Research Animals, NRC, National Academy Press, 1997, Washington, DC
Workplace safety and health information from CDC
________________________________________________________
Back to Top
Last Updated September 28th, 2009