Federal regulations require institutions that use animals in research or educational programs to have in place an occupational health and safety program for individuals who work with or have significant contact with animals. The U.S. Public Health Service Animal Welfare Assurance for California State University, Los Angeles contains the following description of this program:
"The program includes medical monitoring and an educational component. The medical monitoring is based on the type and frequency of exposure to animals, and consists of a baseline health assessment, follow-up health assessment, tests, and immunizations. The educational component provides individuals with health information specific to animal contact and promotes safe working practices."
Occupational Health and Safety Program for Potential Animal Handlers
The goal of the medical monitoring component of this is program is to assess in an efficient and cost-effective manner, whether exposure to animals represents a risk to an individual's health, allowing for appropriate protective actions. The level of health monitoring required takes into account for particular species in question, the level of exposure, and the individual's health history, Protective actions may include the need for follow-up examinations, vaccinations, personnel protective clothing and/or equipment, or other actions deemed necessary to protect the health of the individual, potentially including exclusion from contact with animals.
1. Participants will obtain an Initial Program Registration and Health Evaluation Form from the Animal Care Department.
- The Supervisor/PI only needs to complete the Initial Program Registration (Part I) once for each participant under their supervision.
- The participant needs to complete the Health Evaluation (Part II).
2. Following completion of Parts I and II of thr Initial Program Registration and Health Evaluation Form, the participant will make an appointment and have the form reviewed by the University's contracted Occupational Health Provider (OHP).
3. At the appointment, the OHP will review the form, ask the participant for any clarifications or further information, and provide the University Animal Care Department with their recommendation as to the clearance of the individual to work with animals (Part III).
- The OHP will not forward specific medical information to the Animal Care Department. The OHP is responsible for securely and confidentially storing the Initial Program Registration and Health Evaluation Form in its entirety.
- Costs related to the OHP's review will be borne by the University.
4. The participantwill submit a copy of the completed and signed Part III to the Animal Care Department. It is possible that participants will need to take additional health-related precautions.
5. Following the initial evaluation and clearance, participants will need to meet once per year with the OHP for clearance to continue working with animals. Participants need to complete the Annual Health Surveillance Questionnaire and take it to the OHP for evaluation and recommendation.
- The Animal Care Department should receive a copy of the questionnaire signed by the OHP.
6. If applicable, an initial evaluation will need to be completed again if any of the following have changed:
- duration of animal contact
- type of activity and/or
- type of animal
The OHP will notify the participant if additional health evaluations, vaccinations, or treatments are required before clearance.
- The cost of any additional services shall be borne by the participant, who may choose to use the services of the OHP, a personal physician, or other qualified medical practitioner.
- If a medical provider other than the OHP is used, the participant must bring the entire Initial Program Registration and Health Evaluation Form (Parts I, II and III) to the medical practitioner providing the follow-up evaluation. That personal physician or other qualified medical practitioner will need to provide clearance to work with animals and complete Part III of the form.
- A copy of Part III must then be provided to the Animal Care Department.
- Part I - Animal Contact and Training
- Must be completed by the participant's supervisor or the Principal Investigator (PI) on the animal protocol.
- Asks for participant information, the species of animal used and level of exposure, training in animal handling, related occupational health issues, and any hazardous agents used in the animal research.
- Part II - Initial Health Surveillance Questionnaire
- Must be completed by the participant
- This part or animal-related injuries, medications taken, immunocompromised conditions, immunization history, environmental allergies/asthma, pregnancy status, valvular heart disease, and other conditions.
- Part III - Recommendation of Occupational Health Provider
- Must be completed by the OHP
- When completed and signed this part would provide the clearance for the participant to work with animals for research.
- The OHP will notify the participant if additional health evaluations, vaccinations, or treatments are required before clearance.
- The cost of any additional services shall be borne by the participant, who may choose to use the services of the OHP, a personal physician, or other qualified medical practitioner.
- If a medial provider other than the OHP is used, the participant must bring the entire Initial Program Registration and Health Evaluation Form (Parts I, II and III) to the medical practitioner providing the follow-up evaluation. That personal physician or other qualified medical practitioner will need to provide clearance to work with animals and complete Part III of the form.
- A copy of Part III must then be provided to the Animal Care Department.
- If the OHP, personal physician, or other qualified medical practitioner determines that the participant’s health precludes participation in research or educational activities involving animals, then the OHP will indicate this in Part III without providing specific health information.
- The individual should inform their supervisor of this determination. At no point is the individual required to divulge to their supervisor or any party, other than the OHP, of the specific medical reasons for being precluded from exposure to/handling of animals.
- If the idual wishes to obtain a second medical opinion or otherwise appeal the OHP's determination, they should contact the Animal Care Director.
- Any new health concerns identified during the annual follow-ups, which requrie additional evaluation or exclusion from animal exposure/handling, then procedures described above apply.