Occupational Health and Safety
The Occupational Health Monitoring Program
The Occupational Health Monitoring Program (OHMP) is mandatory for all persons in contact with research animals, their unfixed tissues, or who may enter the research facilities including PIs, students, research staff, maintenance staff, janitorial staff and visitors. The OHMP consists of an information package; questionnaire about the individuals health and their proposed activities; a risk assessment by medical personnel; preventative health recommendation by the medical personnel; and additional one-on-one training when required e.g. for sheep work. The personnel involved in animal work can be divided into three groups based on the frequency of their contact with animals:
| Group 1: Highest Frequency: | CMLAF staff |
| Group 2: Low to High Frequency: | Researchers and their technical staff |
| Group 3: Low Frequency: | Occasional visitors to facilities e.g. maintenance staff |
Group 2: OHMP for Reseachers, Students, and their Technical Staff
Personnel must enroll in the OHMP by completing a Health History Questionnaire Health History Form. Enrollment is a requirement for card access approval for Animal Facility entry.
The current program requires that all personnel working with animals must participate in, and must be trained in animal care and in safety. All personnel who are to handle animals, or to be in facilities where animals are kept, must complete a questionnaire describing their proposed activities, and must also provide information relevant to their health. These two components (activities and health) are reviewed by an occupational health physician, Dr. David Hughes, Occupational Physician at ECMC who then provides an assessment of the risk of the proposed activities (which is returned to IACUC administrator), and makes recommendations to the individual for vaccines etc. All costs for enrolling in the OHMP are covered by the University. All personal health information is strictly confidential and is kept on file at ECMC.
Researchers who are going to be involved with animals must:
- Complete the IACUC/LAF Responsible Care and Use of Laboratory Animals Certification Program (animal use training program), a UBlearns web-based lecture program that includes a lecture on occupational risks and zoonotic diseases associated with working with animals. IACUC Training.
- Return a signed checklist documenting review of the occupational health education packet to IACUC.
- Enroll in the OHMP and receive an assessment by medical staff of the likely risks of the proposed activities. Health History Form. The risk assessment is repeated annually.
Dog Users will have current Rabies immunization, current tetanus vaccines, and a vial of frozen serum maintained for future serologic testing in the advent of exposure to certain infections.
Sheep Users will have an initial medical evaluation; will have current tetanus vaccination, a fit test for respiratory protection, and a frozen serum sample saved as a reference for future Q-fever tests. Annually sheep users will have a fit test.
Group 3: OHMP for occasional visitors to facilities e.g. Maintenance staff, Janitorial Staff
Personnel in this group are those who do not usually work directly with animals but who occasionally must work in the animal facility in close proximity to animals (Trades people, veterinary students). The IACUC provides these personnel with the Occupational and Environmental Safety Information Packet. Personnel are required to complete the questionnaire on the Health History Form that allows medical personnel to perform an individual-specific risk assessment, and to make recommendations to ensure the health and welfare of the individual. In addition, a CMLAF veterinarian meets with these personnel and apprises them of the risks associated with the particular area in the facility in which they will be working, particularly when work involves BSL-2 or sheep areas. High risk areas such as dog rooms, sheep rooms, BSL2 unit are generally restricted from their access, unless they enroll in the OHMP and/or are accompanied by a qualified CMLAF staff member.
Use of Hazardous Agents
All researchers using potentially hazardous agents or materials such as infectious and cancerous agents, highly toxic chemicals or recombinant DNA molecules falling under NIH guidelines have an obligation to inform the University Biosafety Committee by registering their research program. Experiments using radioactive substances must be approved by the Department of Radiation Protection. Animal use is regulated by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, in collaboration with these groups. It is the Principal Investigator's responsibility to provide appropriate information on these materials to all those who may be exposed to these materials and/or their hazardous degradation products and inform the CM-LAF Director or Manager of when these projects will start. This information shall include but not be limited to (a) written hazard descriptions, such as material safety data sheets (MSDS); (b) hazard specific and documented training of personnel including both research workers and support personnel such as animal care workers; and (c) the posting of appropriate standardized signage. The CMLAF will arrange training of LAF personnel, posting of signage on the holding room doors, appropriate housing of animals, and cage tags.
The Office of Environmental Health and Safety Services can provide appropriate registration documents and NIH/CDC Guidelines, assist in obtaining appropriate MSDS information sheets, standardized signage and generic training and information on the establishment of a Chemical Hygiene Plan and/or a Blood Borne Pathogen Program (as required by OSHA).
Worksite Injuries
- The employee will immediately notify his/her supervisor of any accident, injury or exposure incident. Supervisors will gather as much information as possible regarding the incident. This would include, at minimum, an investigation of the animal, potential contaminants, nature of the research project and other pertinent data. All incidents must be reported to CMLAF at 829-2919.
Note: All supervisory personnel are familiar with the contents of the University's Biosafety Exposure Control Plan, especially Chapter 11 which is titled "Emergency Information". - All incidents are to be reported to Annette Lozo, Workers Compensation Administrator, Human Resources Department, 120 Crofts Hall, 645-5000 x 1025. This is usually done by the supervisor of the employee.
Note: If the injury involves a needlestick or a cut from a sharp that could have been contaminated with blood or other bodily fluid, wash exposed area with soap and water, seek medical attention immediately and notify your supervisor. Inform your medical provider of the possibility of a bloodborne contamination exposure. The department should contact OE&S immediately at 829-2401 to initiate investigation into the potential for bloodborne infection. In addition, the Employee should notify Annette Lozo. - Any animal involved in a bite or scratch incident will be placed on a ten-day quarantine. The Veterinary staff will place a card on the cage that states "Quarantined – Do Not Euthanize For Ten Days". The card will also specify the date of the incident and the ten-day ending date. The Veterinary staff will monitor the health status of the animal while on quarantine.
- The employee should proceed to the Erie County Medical Center (ECMC), 462 Grider Street, Buffalo, to receive medical attention. During normal work hours (M-F, 8-4) call 898-4153 and inform the Occupational Medicine Department that you need to see a doctor.
After hours, proceed to ECMC Emergency Entrance and tell the front desk that you are a UB employee, that you are enrolled in the Occupational Health and Safety Program, and you were injured at work.
