STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES for PERSONNEL PROTECTION - SHEEP AND GOATS

COMPARATIVE MEDICINE LABORATORY ANIMAL FACILITIES

1. Purpose:
   This procedure mandates all safety precautions to be followed when working with sheep and/or goats.
2. Scope:
   This procedure applies to all CM-LAF, investigator and maintenance staff that may come into contact with sheep and/or goats.
3. Procedure:
   Strict adherence to the following guidelines will optimize the personnel protection of individuals working with sheep and goats.
   1. Environmental Exposure/Barriers
      1. A biohazard sign must be posted on all the doors of the lab.
      2. Information of the hazard and contact numbers must be included on the sign.
      3. The entrance doors should be locked to prevent anyone accidentally wandering in.
   2. The following procedures should be performed EACH AND EVERY time one enters or exits a lab where sheep and goats are being utilized.
      1. ENTRY:
         All personnel must put on a mask (N95 respirator 3M #8210) gloves, gown (disposable or non-disposable), hair cover and shoe covers.
         1. These procedures must also be followed when working with sheep/goat body fluids and tissues, including milk, placenta and afterbirth fluids.
         2. All gowning should occur in the area designated for that purpose.
      2. EXIT:
         1. Personnel should degown in the animal room by first removing booties, gowns, hair covers , masks and then gloves.
            1. Disposable items should be placed in biomedical waste bags and incinerated.
            2. Non-disposable gowns should be sequestered, autoclaved, and then laundered (in that order).
            3. Hands must be washed immediately after leaving sheep area.
         2. Chlorinated (10%) foot baths should be employed at all exits.
            1. Stepping into this prepared wetted surface upon exit from the lab minimizes tracking of potential infectious agents outside of the containment area. See SOP 1.C.2 for preparation.
   3. Housing/Physical Contamination
      1. When sheep or goats are used in either acute or chronic experimental protocols, every effort should be made to minimize contamination of the surrounding work area.
         1. Work surfaces, floors and equipment should be decontaminated after exposure to sheep/goats (or their fluids and tissues) with bleach (10%) or other approved disinfectant (PV-15 by Pharmacal).
         2. Paper items, drugs etc. that are used exclusively for sheep/goats that cannot be easily disinfected can be stored in a "Biohazard" labeled container/bag inside the housing area.
            1. The container must be placed in a second Biohazard labeled bag and the outside sprayed down with bleach or disinfectant.
      2. Labs should embrace a policy of treating contaminants (spillage of feces/urine/blood/placental content, etc.) similarly to that currently employed by Radiation Protection Services. See SOP 1.C.1 for specific cleaning details.
      3. In the event of an accident, major clean-up or serious breakdown in containment, all incidents should be reported immediately and followed up with a written report, including details on circumstances/persons involved/remedial action, etc. This report should be submitted to the CM-LAF immediately.
   4. Environmental/Personnel Traffic
      1. It is imperative that once a laboratory is engaged in its research protocol of that day, all participants minimize their traffic in and out of this area.
         1. If it is necessary to leave the lab, the SOPs for gowning and degowning, etc. continue to apply each and every time.
         2. Trafficking of personnel outside the labs into corridors or between floors is strictly forbidden unless they have followed the SOP for degowning/decontamination.
      2. When transporting sheep and goats, CM-LAF sanctioned sheep/goat transport carriers must be used. Moving of the animal in and out of the carrier should be performed with minimal extraction of fecal contents/urine residue, etc. from the carrier. Immediate cleanup is required when this occurs.
   5. Surveillance Monitoring
      1. All personnel working with sheep or goats will be required to be tested for Q fever semi-annually using serologic surveys.
         1. PI and staff must be Q-Fever tested before starting their project and participate in the OE&S health screening program.
         2. Individuals with certain medical conditions (i.e. pregnancy, artificial heart valves) may be excluded from sheep/goat contact, on advice from medical staff.
   6. For further information contact the offices of Occupational and Environmental Safety at 829-3301, or the Department of Comparative Medicine, Laboratory Animal Facilities, at 829-2919.