University of Virginia Health System

Occupational Health Program

The University of Virginia provides an Occupational Health Program for individuals who have animal contact in the course of their employment or studies. This program is jointly administered by the Occupational Health Clinic and Student Health, based on recommendations set forth in the NIH “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” (National academy Press 1996) and "Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals" (National Research Council, 1997), in consultation with representatives of University Human Resources, the Center for Comparative Medicine, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC), and Environmental Health and Safety. The program has several components, including Health Surveillance, Education, and Risk Assessment. Each component is described below.

Health Surveillance

The Health Surveillance portion of the University’s Occupational Health Program is based on the type and frequency of exposure to animals. Individuals covered by the program include faculty, staff, students, and volunteers or visitors who have direct exposure to vertebrate animals, animal tissues, body fluids, or wastes. Individuals with isolated one-time contact (e.g., participation in training sessions) will be informed of specific health risks and related precautions, but will not be required to enroll in the Health Surveillance program. The requirements of the Health Surveillance Program include annual evaluations at which the employee will complete a detailed questionnaire and meet with a health care professional to discuss: the employee’s current health condition; risks for conditions such as allergies and zoonotic diseases; and any symptoms he or she may be experiencing or concerns he or she may have. Specific requirements, based on the species to which the employee is exposed, are summarized at in the Health Surveillance Program Requirements.

**Instructions for Occupational Health Program Participation                      

Employees who fail to complete the Health Surveillance Program requirements will not be permitted to work with research animals. Principal investigators are responsible for making sure that animal handlers named on their protocols have completed the Occupational Health Program. Protocols that contain the name(s) of animal handlers who are not compliant with the Program will not be approved by the ACUC.

Occupational Health Program
Health Surveillance Program Requirements

Experimentation Involving Hazardous Agent

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS: Dr. Ralph Allen, Director and Professor of Chemistry) is responsible for education and oversight of use of all chemical hazards, radioactive hazards, and biological hazards. There are mandatory educational sessions for all of these substances as well as general laboratory safety. This office employs trained technicians to provide emergency services in the event of radiological, biological or chemical spills. The University Medical Center has emergency facilities including a Poison Control Center. University employees have access to all of these programs.

Researchers are responsible for obtaining approval for use of hazardous agents prior to approval of their animal research protocol. Radiation Safety oversees use of radioisotopes and irradiation. The Institutional Biosafety Committee reviews and approves use of biologic hazards, including use of recombinant DNA and gene vectors. Use of any hazardous agents within the animal facility is preceded by consultation with one of the veterinarians in Center for Comparative Medicine to ensure that animal care staff are properly educated and trained and that all necessary precautions and safety practices are in place prior to beginning the project. Facility supervisors maintain MSDS sheets on all chemicals used in the facility. All anesthesia machines are equipped with waste scavenging devices.

Protective Equipment/Clothing

Research personnel may wear scrub tops, lab coats, or disposable coveralls. Protective clothing is used for all work with non-human primates, biohazardous agents, and animals in barrier housing. This includes gowns or coveralls, head covers, masks, gloves, and booties. Eye protection is also worn for work with non-human primates.

Animal care and veterinary staff who have frequent animal contact will undergo respiratory fit testing. Each of these employees will be instructed as to the proper selection, care and use of the appropriate respirator, and will be required to use the respirator when working in animal care areas.

Education

Training on occupational health issues will be provided in conjunction with other health and safety training provided by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety. In accordance with nationally accepted guidelines, this training will touch all employees who could have any contact with the animal care and use areas, including facilities, housekeeping and security personnel. New animal handler orientation, which is conducted every month by the Director of Animal Program Training, will also include information about the Occupational Health Program. Training will address zoonoses, personal hygiene, and other occupational health considerations. In addition, all animal care and use employees will have access to a database that includes links to on-line educational materials, geared toward each individual’s exposure profile.

Personnel working with non-human primates are informed of the specific hazards associated with these animals, in particular Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1 infection (Monkey B virus, Herpesvirus simiae). Training will include information about what precautions must be taken prior to handling primates, including chemical immobilization and full protective clothing.

When new projects are initiated involving use of a hazardous agent, a training session is held with the investigator and all animal care staff who might work with those animals. This session would cover all added risks and any special procedures to be followed.
To request additional information about training; please call the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 982-4911.

Injuries or Illnesses

Any occupational injury or hazardous exposure should be reported immediately to the employee's supervisor. If medical assistance is needed, the supervisor will complete a Treatment Authorization form at http://iqhealthvirginia.com/OHSauthorizationtotreatformdpt.pdf, and direct the employee to the Occupational Health Clinic at VASI Building 337 15th St. S.W., (2nd Floor). If there are no health care providers available, the employee may be treated by the Medical Center Emergency Room. Injury reports are filed and the Office of Environmental Health and Safety and University Human Resources generate an annual summary report of all personnel injuries.

Risk Assessment

The Occupational Health Program includes provisions for ongoing review of the facilities, and potential exposures to health hazards within the facilities. Generalized data from the Occupational Health Clinic and OEHS environmental observations will also be reviewed in order to determine whether there are patterns of injury, illness or exposure that need to be investigated. Anyone that observes a potential risk should notify a supervisor. Supervisors should communicate these observations to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety for further investigation and potential mitigation.