Occupational Safety and Health Program for Animal Handlers

The Guide for the Care and Use of Animals (Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council) states that "An occupational health program is mandatory for personnel who work in laboratory animal facilities or have substantial animal contact." All persons who have contact with animals, unfixed animal tissue, or infectious organisms must be made aware of the potential hazards of working with animals and of the procedures available at the university to prevent and treat such hazards. It is the responsibility of the principal investigator of each Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approved protocol to assure the IACUC that all workers under their supervision (co-investigators, staff, students, and volunteers) who have contact with animals have been informed of the potential dangers involved and are aware of the procedures available to prevent and treat such hazards. Completing the tasks laid out in this program will fulfill that responsibility. 

All animal handlers must be informed that occupational health services are available through Environmental Health & Safety if they perform work in a 'covered capacity'. Animal handlers may:

• Receive counseling about the availability of pre-exposure vaccines;
• Have routine tuberculosis testing performed when necessary;
• Have pre-contact and post-employment serum samples collected for titer evaluation when appropriate; and;
• Receive treatment for symptoms or injury related to animal allergens, bites, scratches, etc;

'Covered capacity' means those persons who are an employee of the university (faculty, staff, or wage), who perform animal-related activities while being paid or while working on stipend, or who otherwise work in an employee-like role. 'Employee-like' would include volunteers and students who are performing work on behalf of the university, are being directly supervised by a university employee, and who can be dismissed for cause. 'Employee-like' does not include students involved in educational-related activities, including students in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Students who handle animals as as a part of their course of study need to review the information found on the Research and Innovation website and certify they have reviewed all relevant information for the work peformed.

Any individual who has been bitten or scratched while working with an animal and who is experiencing signs and symptoms consistent with a work-related exposure to an animal or an infectious organism being studied, or who has a known exposure to zoonotic disease, must report this information to his/her supervisor and to the appropriate health officials (Environmental Health & Safety and any medical personnel providing treatment for the injury/exposure). In addition, the injured person, or his or her supervisor, must fill out the Employers' Accident Report if the individual is an employee of the university. 

While an IACUC protocol may be approved before all the requirements of this program are fulfilled, no animals may be ordered for use with the protocol until the principal investigator is in full compliance with the provisions of the program. Furthermore, at each annual review of a protocol, principal investiator will have to certify that, to the best of their knowledge, all animal handlers working under that protocol are in compliance with the provisions of this program.

Environmental Health & Safety

Coordinates the Occupational Safety and Health Program for Animal Handlers at Virginia Tech;  Provides or coordinates all medical monitoring and medical services for covered employees; Maintains records according to OSHA requirements; and provides exposure monitoring, evaluations, and medical services needed by animal handlers based on their work-related exposures.

Principal investigators/lab supervisors

Read this Occupational Health and Safety Program for Animal Handlers. Contact Environmental Health & Safety or the Office of Research Compliance with any questions about this program. 

Maintain this document readily available in your laboratory and the laboratories of any second investigators and make its contents available to all animal handlers working in those labs and for biannual IACUC laboratory inspections.

Make sure all animal handlers working in your laboratory and the laboratories of any second investigators working under your protocol read this document. 

Complete the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Hazard Assessment form.

Complete the Medical Survey Questionnaire. The purpose of this questionnaire is to obtain an individual health history for employees working with animals and/or potentially infectious material, including toxins of biological origin, unfixed tissue, and microorganisms. It will be used in conjunction with individual protocol risk assessments to evaluate appropriate medical services needed and to determine appropriate individual  PPE needs. Once the questionnaire has been reviewed by Environmental Health & Safety and the Occupational Health Physician, you will be notified about the recommendations for any testing or vaccinations to ensure your safety at work 

Train animal handlers on the signs and symptoms related to the infectious disease work you are doing or the zoonotic diseases that could potentially be transmitted by the species of animals that employees are working with. Notify Environmental Health & Safety if any employees report any suspicious signs and symptoms. 

Complete the Notice of Understanding and Compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Program For Animal Handlers. This notice should be kept in the Occupational Health and Safety for Animal Handlers manual at the research site for biannual IACUC laboratory inspections. 

When you see your primary care physician or another medical care provider for any illness always let him/her know about your work with animals and/or infectious organisms.

Animal handlers and lab technicians

Read this Occupational Health and Safety Program for Animal Handlers. Contact Environmental Health & Safety or the Office of Research Compliance with any questions about this program. 

Complete the Medical Survey Questionnaire. Once the questionnaire has been reviewed by Environmental Health & Safety and the Occupational Health Physician, you will be notified about recommendations for any testing or vaccinations to ensure your safety at work. 

Know the signs and symptoms related to the infectious disease work you are doing or the zoonotic diseases that could potentially be transmitted by the species of animals with which you work. Report any suspicious signs and symptoms to your principal investigator or supervisor whether or not you recall an exposure incident. 

When you see your primary care physician or another medical care provider for any illness always let him/her know about your work with animals and/or infectious organisms.

Initial or change of duty

• The principal investigator or supervisor identifies at-risk personnel, notifies Environmental Health & Safety with the name and contact information of the individual(s), and directs at-risk employees, or those performing work in an 'employee like role, to fill out the Medical Survey Questionnaire. Note: PI's must complete this step as soon as possible after a protocol is submitted for approval so that there is sufficient time for vaccinations to take effect before work begins if applicable.
• At-risk employees complete the Medical Survey Questionnaire and submit it to Environmental Health & Safety. 
• Environmental Health & Safety performs an initial work practice evaluation to determine if an individual needs medical services based on the information provided. 
• Environmental Health & Safety medical staff arrange for any needed vaccinations, titers, or other medical services 
• As needed, the Occupational Health Physician reviews the medical questionnaire and provides any needed medical evaluations. 
• Environmental Health & Safety sends a list of people who have received medical surveillance services to the Office of Research Compliance. 
• Environmental Health & Safety sends a list of people who have received pertinent training to the Office of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance.

Annual

• At-risk employees provide an annual update to the Medical Survey Questionnaire OR update their questionnaire if there have been any exposure, species, or job duty changes. 
• Environmental Health & Safety reviews the annual update information. 
• If changes have occurred, Environmental Health & Safety reviews work practices to determine if additional medical services are needed. 
• Annual updates and any new questionnaires are forwarded to the Occupational Health Physician for review when determined necessary by Environmental Health & Safety medical staff. 
• When necessary, the Occupational Health physician provides a written opinion to Environmental Health & Safety documenting an individual's fitness for duty status.

Proper work practices

There are a number of work practices and personal hygiene issues that apply to all laboratories and all workers who are exposed to animals:

• There must be no eating, drinking, smoking, or application of cosmetics in areas where animals are used. Food must be stored in a separate refrigerator maintained for this purpose only and located outside of the area where animals are used or housed. 
• No animals may be kept overnight outside of the designated animal housing rooms. 
• Appropriate PPE must be worn at all times when handling animals. 
• All contaminated or infectious substances must be handled carefully in order to minimize the formation of aerosols or other type of exposure. 
• Laboratory coats or coveralls must be worn over street clothes when animals are handled. This will decrease the contamination of the street clothes. The laboratory clothes must be left in the laboratory and must not be worn while eating. 
• Additional specific precautions are necessary when handling biohazardous agents. Refer to the Virginia Tech Biosafety for Laboratory Workers manual for guidance on the proper use of biohazardous agents in laboratories at Virginia Tech. 
• Mechanical pipetting must be used. Mouth pipetting is prohibited. 
• All work surfaces must be decontaminated daily and after any animal use. 
• Careful handwashing must be done after handling animals, after removing gloves or other PPE, and prior to leaving the laboratory for any reason. One of the most effective disease prevention methods available when treating any injury that breaks the skin is immediate and thorough washing of the injury with soap and warm water. 
• Contaminated materials which will not be decontaminated in the laboratory itself must be placed in containers that are both leakproof and durable before they are removed from the laboratory. Refer to the Biosafety for Laboratory Workers manual for more information. 
• Anyone using respiratory protection must be enrolled in the Respiratory Protection Program. Please contact Environmental Health & Safety at 540-231-3998 if assistance is needed. 
• Anyone exposed to excessive noise levels must be enrolled in the Hearing Conservation Program. For assistance with determining noise levels or selecting appropriate hearing protectors, please contact Environmental Health & Safety at 540-231-5985. 
• Manipulation of heavy cages or other equipment, restraining or handling large animals, and work in slippery or wet areas should be done as carefully as possible using proper PPE and proper techniques to avoid injury.

Zoonotic diseases are capable of being transmitted between humans and animals. They often do not cause obvious signs and symptoms in one species but may cause significant illness in another species. Over 150 diseases may be classified as zoonotic. Many of these diseases are of great concern and include Rabies, Herpes B Virus, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, Q fever, and Cat Scratch Fever. For more information, please see Appendix C of the Infection Prevention Program.

Laboratory Animal Allergy (LAA) reactions are among the most common conditions affecting the health of workers involved in the care and use of research animals. It is a significant occupational health concern for many animal attendants, staff, scientists, and technicians engaged in the care and use of laboratory animals. 

LAA is a hypersensitivity reaction from exposure to a laboratory animal or its fur, dander, urine, saliva, or other body tissues. The nature and intensity of the symptoms are dependent on the level of exposure to the laboratory animal allergen by the individual. Once the worker has been sensitized, symptoms generally occur rapidly (within minutes) of exposure. Continued daily exposure can result in chronic symptoms that may require daily treatment. Individuals with a history of asthma or allergies to pollens, animals, or cigarettes are at greater risk of developing sensitivity to laboratory species. 

Several species of animals commonly used in animal research and teaching are also species that frequently cause allergic reactions in people. Among these species are the cat, rabbit, rat, mouse, dog, and horse. Proper use of PPE can greatly reduce the allergenic effects of these species in sensitive persons. In addition, the use of PPE can prevent sensitization in someone who is not currently allergic to laboratory animals. Contact Environmental Health & Safety for guidance on the use of PPE to mitigate or prevent allergic reactions to the animals you are working with.

Such injuries would include bites, kicks, scratches, and similar animal-inflicted wounds. Proper training for those handling animals, plus proper use of PPE, is essential for reducing the frequency and severity of these types of injuries. Contact your principal investigator or supervisor for additional training or PPE, especially when being reassigned to a new area or species of animal. Supervisors and PIs should contact Environmental Health & Safety at 540-231-5985 if guidance is needed. For guidance on responding to potential rabies exposure incidents, please see the rabies fact sheet. For guidance on specific animal species, see the Bird, Cat, Cattle, Dog, Fish, Horse, Rabbit, Rodent, Swine, or Sheep and Goats Fact Sheets. For women of child-bearing age, please see that fact sheet.  

Crush injuries from handling heavy caging, hearing loss from loud mechanical equipment or animal vocalizations, slip and fall injuries that occur while working in wet environments, sprains and strain injuries from heavy lifting or restraint of large animals are examples of this type of injury. Proper training of personnel and the use of appropriate work practices and use of PPE is very important to prevent harm to workers. Contact your principal investigator or supervisor for information regarding appropriate PPE and safety procedures if you work in such areas. Supervisors and PIs should contact Environmental Health & Safety at 540-231-5985 if guidance is needed.

Experimental animals that have been exposed to human pathogens or zoonotic diseases, human cell lines, toxins, carcinogens, or radioisotopes that are excreted by the animal, whether via bodily fluids (including saliva and respiratory excretions) or bodily wastes, can present a significant human health risk. IACUC protocols include questions to assess these risks and the protocols are also reviewed by Environmental Health & Safety. Supervisors must train animal handlers and animal users, including students who work with animals in a course of study, to ensure appropriate practices. Animal handlers and users are expected to review the protocol before handling any animals that have been experimentally infected with any agent or may be excreting hazardous substances. Animal handlers and laboratory staff should know the signs and symptoms of the disease caused by the infectious organism or animal species they are working with or the signs of any toxic exposure and report any illness with similar symptoms to their supervisors and Environmental Health & Safety by calling 540-231-3998.

The purpose of this section is to establish guidelines to be followed when employees working with mutagenic, teratogenic, and/or infectious agents are either immuno-compromised, become pregnant, or consider conception. 

Any employee who has an autoimmune disease (no matter how well managed) or is taking immune-suppressing medications or is pregnant or planning conception should be aware that working with mutagenic, teratogenic, and/or infectious agents poses a special risk to them or a fetus. See NIOSH guides Effect of Workplace Hazards on Female Reproductive Health and Effect of Workplace Hazards on Male Reproductive Health for more information. In addition, employees should consult with their PCP or Obstetrician regarding their work and the implications to their health or that of their unborn child. If an employee chooses to communicate this medical information to his/her supervisor, there are several options that can be offered to the employee. These options include: 

• Consultation with Environmental Health & Safety and Virginia Tech's Occupational Health physician regarding the hazards in the employee's workplace, evaluation of work practices, upgrades in PPE, or potential need to change duties. 
• Consultation between the Occupational Health physician and the employee's primary care physician or obstetrician to thoroughly analyze the specific medical concerns for the employee in relation to the workplace hazards in order to make recommendations for accommodating the employee. 
• Consultation with Human Resources as needed to facilitate implementation of recommendations made by the medical providers or Environmental Health & Safety.

Personnel working with animals in research or teaching programs are potentially at risk for a variety of illnesses or injuries. Personnel working with animals may be exposed to zoonotic diseases, animal bites and scratches, injury from heavy caging equipment, burns and scalds from cage washing activities, hearing loss from animal vocalizations or machinery noise (especially in cage wash areas), human pathogens introduced into the animals, toxins, carcinogens, or radioisotope use. The presence of immunocompromised or pregnant animals or personnel in the workplace is also a concern. See below for additional information on specific risks when working with animals.

All employees, or persons working in an 'employee like capacity, must complete the Medical Survey Questionnaire to document their medical history and work-related exposures. Based on the information provided on the questionnaire, the Occupational Health Physician and Environmental Health & Safety may recommend vaccinations, medical tests (such as TB, pulmonary function, or titer/other blood tests), and other assessments as needed. 

Personnel should always wear PPE when working with animals. Such clothing minimally includes a laboratory coat, gloves, and eye protection. Additionally, respiratory protection may need to be worn when working with diseases that may be airborne, when working with species that are known to be highly allergenic, or when an individual is allergic to a specific animal species. All employees who utilize respiratory protection must be enrolled in Environmental Health & Safety  Respiratory Protection Program. Please contact Environmental Health & Safety at 540-231-5985 if you use or need to use a respirator and are not enrolled in this program.

Any employee or volunteer who has been injured by an animal or exposed to an infectious disease while working at Virginia Tech must notify his/her supervisor or principal investigator and fill out an accident report. Anyone who has been exposed to human blood or other human material should get the contact information of the person or the source of the material (for example, the supplier of the cell line) so that Environmental Health & Safety can follow up to determine whether there is a risk of a Bloodborne Pathogen or other human pathogen exposure. For a laboratory exposure to a known infectious agent, laboratory staff must provide a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or other data on the specific strain to which the individual was exposed. In the case of an animal handler’s injury by an animal that may carry a zoonotic disease, the animal should be observed by veterinary staff and tested when appropriate to determine whether there is a risk of zoonotic disease transmission.

• Provide immediate first-aid. Stop the bleeding of wounds and wash the affected areas with soap and water. For fieldwork where soap and water may not be readily available, use of baby wipes (available in small portable packages) or alcohol-based cleansing gel is acceptable. Alcohol-based gels are neutralized by organic matter so the first application should be wiped off to remove debris, or the area can be cleaned first with a baby wipe, and the next application of gel can be left on the skin. 
• Immediately report the incident to the facility director or manager. 
• Those individuals needing immediate medical treatment for serious injuries may visit an appropriate healthcare provider for treatment (e.g., emergency room, primary care physician, students may also be treated at Student Health Services). Immediate medical treatment may be required if:
  • An individual’s ability to breath properly is affected; 
  • Bleeding is excessive and difficult to control; 
  • An injury clearly needs sutures; or 
  • There is a loss of consciousness associated with the incident. 
• An individual seeking medical attention must take a Hazard Summary sheet or agent SDS and present them to the healthcare provider prior to receiving services. It is important that the healthcare provider be made aware of the hazards present in the facility in order to appropriately diagnose and treat an individual. 
• Employees' supervisor completes an Employers' Accident Report within 24 hours of the incident. This document is specific to the Workers Compensation Program and is required prior to any follow-up medical services being provided for employees. 
• The facility director or manager completes a General Incident Report form to be used by the facility director, facility manager, and Environmental Health & Safety for review of the incident.

• In addition to completing the Employers' Accident Report, and following the previous procedure, the Facility Director or Manager must record the details of the known or suspected exposure on the Exposure Incident Report Form including:
  • The infectious agent(s) involved; 
  • Circumstances of the exposure; 
  • The possible route(s) of exposure; 
  • An estimate of the dose received by each individual exposed; 
  • Whether or not the individual(s) is/are symptomatic and, if asymptomatic, what signs and symptoms to monitor; and, 
  • Any known post-exposure prophylaxis or treatment protocol. 
• Those individuals needing immediate medical treatment for serious injuries in conjunction with a known or suspected exposure may visit an appropriate healthcare provider for treatment (e.g., emergency room, primary care physician, students may also be treated at Student Health Services). 
  • Prior to seeking medical treatment after any exposure incident, known or suspected, the individual must be deconned (i.e., contaminated clothing removed and affected areas washed) and the information from step 1 along with a Hazard Summary sheet and/or SDS must be presented to emergency response personnel if summoned, and the healthcare provider. 
  • In addition, the individual (or another informed person, if the individual is incapacitated) must notify the healthcare provider BEFORE they believe that exposure or suspected exposure has occurred. This allows the healthcare provider to designate the use of an alternate entrance to prevent contamination of primary receiving rooms or areas. 
• Environmental Health & Safety must also be notified immediately of any exposure incident and provided the information recorded in step 1 to ensure proper evaluation and follow-up by the university's occupational health physician or a Workers Compensation Panel Physician. Contact Environmental Health & Safety personnel in the following order, or call the main Environmental Health & Safety number at 540-231-3600.
  
  • Juliet Dadras, RN BSN, occupational health nurse, 540-231-8733, mjdadras@vt.edu
  • Zack Adams, assistant director, Environmental Health & Safety, 540-231-5985, adamsz@vt.edu
  • Charlotte Waggoner, university biosafety officer, 540-231-5864, ren@vt.edu
  • Michael Miles, biosafety specialist, 540-231-3361, msmiles@vt.edu
  • After hours, Environmental Health & Safety can be contacted by calling Virginia Tech Police at 540-231-6411. 
• Following any incident, a review must be conducted by the facility director, facility manager, and Environmental Health & Safety to determine possible causes, review work practices, and determine preventative measures for future incidents. Documentation of incidents and corrective actions must be maintained.

Animal Allergies

Bird Fact Sheet

Cat Fact Sheet

Cattle Fact Sheet

Dog Fact Sheet

Exposure to Infectious Agent Report Form (pdf)

Fish Fact Sheet

Guidelines for Educational and Research Activities (pdf)

Guidelines on Minors in the Workplace

Gudelines for the Use of Anethetic Gases

Horse Fact Sheet

Infection Control Program: Rickettsial Diseases

Infection Prevention Program: Appendix A

Occupational Health Assurance Program  

Rabies Exposure Fact Sheet

Rabbit Fact Sheet

Rodent Fact Sheet

Sheep and Goats Fact Sheet

Swine Fact Sheet

Women of Child-bearing Age Fact Sheet