Important Occupational Health Information for all animal Users!
**Important Notification**
Please be advised that the turn around time for
review of health history surveys and clearance of personnel
MAY take as long as two weeks.
Surveys submitted less than two weeks prior to a GUACUC
Meeting, where a protocol is on the agenda, cannot be guaranteed to
be acted upon in time for that meeting. This may result in the delay
of protocol approval.
***
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM
FOR RESEARCH PERSONNEL WITH ANIMAL CONTACT
Individuals who work with or near animals in a modern research setting are at risk for animal-related allergy, injury, and infectious disease. The risks are variable depending upon the species being used, the source of the animals, the quantity and quality of contact with or exposure to the animals, and other factors.
The quality of today's research animals greatly limits the chance of acquiring an infectious disease from the animals at GUMC. This is particularly true for anyone using purpose bred rodents or rabbits. The other animals used at GUMC pose slightly higher, but still very small, risks of infectious disease. The Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) maintains a library with information on zoonotic diseases. Anyone desiring further information can contact the DCM Director.
Allergies are common in people working with or near laboratory animals. These include both inhalant and contact allergies. Nearly every species housed in the DCM has the potential to cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. In many cases the allergies develop after employment begins. Symptoms can vary but can include conjunctivitis, dermatitis, respiratory problems and anaphylaxis. Prevention of animal allergy depends on control measures in place within the work environment. A combination of methods to combat or limit allergen exposure, including administrative controls, training and education and the utilization of personal protective equipment has been implemented at Georgetown University.
Injuries are the most common occupational hazard for DCM staff members. Most of these are related to the equipment, lifting, repetitive motion, wet floors, etc. Investigators, their staff, and other individuals entering the animal facility should be watchful for wet floors and practice proper lifting techniques, as necessary. In addition, staff members are at risk of animal bites and scratches. Proper animal handling greatly reduces the potential for a bite or scratch.
For more information, please go to:
Training and Distribution of Infomation
Medical Clearance Procedures
- Risk Assessment - Health History Survery
- Medical Clearance
- Annual Health Evaluation Assessment
Prevention Procedures
Bite and Scratch Procedures
Reporting Procedures for Animal-Related Illness or Injury
For More Information
Program
Announcement Webpage
Occupational
Health Program Health History Survey
Training and Distribution of Information
All Animal Research Personnel receive and review the following written information during the required DCM orientation:
- "Preventing Asthma in Animal Handlers" (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Alert, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-116)
- "Animal Allergy" (Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals, National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington DC, 1997, Chapter 4);
- A copy of this Occupational Health Program and Worker's Compensation Guide
The DCM provides hands-on training, upon request of individual Animal Research Personnel or the Georgetown University Animal Care and Use Committee (GUACUC), in humane methods of restraint and laboratory procedures with emphasis on injury prevention for both personnel and animals.
All Animal Research Personnel working in a laboratory setting must attend training sessions in chemical, biological, basic laboratory safety, blood borne pathogens and fire and electrical safety. Radiation safety training is required if Animal Research Personnel will be working in a lab authorized to use radioactive materials.
A DCM clinical veterinarian provides information to Animal Research Personnel working with non-human primates on the proper use of Bite and Scratch kits during the mandatory Herpes B Training class. The proper use of the Bite and Scratch Kits, which are provided by the DCM in all non-human primate housing areas, will be described and discussed in the class.
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Medical Clearance Procedures
1. Risk Assessment - Health History Survery
All Animal Research Personnel who are listed as participants on an approved IACUC protocol must complete a Health History Survey and medical evaluation, and obtain medical clearance, annually and prior to GUACUC protocol renewal. All Animal Research Personnel, who will be listed as a participant and will work with animals on a GUACUC protocol, must obtain medical clearance through the Occupational Health Program before the GUACUC protocol can be approved or renewed. The Health History Survey is available on the GUACUC website. New Animal Research Personnel also receive the form during their required DCM orientation.
All completed surveys should be sent directly to the Occupational Health Program Coordinator ("Coordinator"), who will log and forward the form to the Medical Director. The Medical Director will review the survey and provides the appropriate risk assessment, evaluating the following:
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Tetanus toxoid (valid for 10 years, otherwise a booster will be required unless medically contraindicated)
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TB screening -Individuals working with non-human primates who do not have a history of a prior positive PPD receive a PPD on enrollment. If the PPD is positive, further action will be as per CDC/ATS/ACCP guidelines. If the participant has a history of a previous positive PPD, further skin testing is not performed; a TB Questionnaire is administered. A chest x-ray is obtained if the individuals responses to the TB Questionnaire suggest active pulmonary tuberculosis or the individuals cannot provide documentation of a normal chest x-ray following the discovery of the positive PPD
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Hepatitis B - 3 doses of vaccine will be offered unless an individual has had prior doses of the vaccine. If prior doses of the vaccine were administered, the vaccine series will resume from the last dose received; the series does not need to be restarted. Employees may decline vaccination by indicating this choice on the Hep B Vaccine Declination form
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Measles - Individuals working with nonhuman primates who have not had previous exposure to measles (e.g. had a natural case or been previously vaccinated) will be offered the vaccine. Employees may decline vaccination by indicating this choice on the Measles Vaccine Declination form
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Allergy assessment
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General health assessment
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2. Medical Clearance
If additional tests, physical exams or health surveillance are needed, the Medical Director will complete a Medical Authorization and Order Form and will forward it to the Coordinator. The Coordinator will forward a copy of the Medical Authorization and Order Form to the Animal Research Personnel and will assist in setting up appointments, as necessary, with the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC).
Upon notification of the need for additional tests, physical exam or health surveillance, all Animal Research Personnel will have thirty days to complete the clinical services. If clinical services are not administered within thirty days of receipt of notification, the GUACUC will be notified and access to the DCM facility will be revoked.
After the individual has received his/her examination, testing and/or assessment, the Coordinator will retrieve the Patient Encounter form and completed Medical Authorization and Order Form from the GCRC and will forward directly to the Medical Director for final review.
The Medical Director will then complete a "Medical Clearance to Work with Laboratory Animals" letter ("Medical Clearance") and will forward this to the Coordinator for distribution and logging into the program database. The Coordinator will send a copy of the Medical Clearance letter to the individual, will enter the Medical Clearance information into the program database, and will file the hard copy of the forms securely.
The Coordinator will make available to the GUACUC the names of all Animal Research Personnel who have completed the Health History Survey and have obtained Medical Clearance. All medical history information will be maintained securely by the Coordinator.
The GUMC Occupational Health Program will maintain strict confidentiality of patient information and records. Except for "Clearance to Work with Laboratory Animals" letters, no medical information is released to any agency without written consent from the examinee.
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3. Annual Health Evaluation Assessment
Research personnel are required to complete and submit an Annual Health Assessment form for review and approval by the Medical Director. The status of medical clearance of all personnel listed on an IACUC protocol is checked at the time of protocol annual renewal. Protocols will not receive renewal approval unless all participants listed have full medical clearance to work with animals.
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Prevention Procedures
The DCM and research laboratories must make available personal protective equipment (e.g. lab coats, face masks, gloves, scrubs) in places where animals may be present.
If research animals are transported outside the DCM, they must be moved in a filtered container (e.g. cages with microisolator filter tops for rodents).
The outside of the container must be covered so that animals are not visible.
In the laboratory, animals should be maintained and handled in a local exhaust system such as a biological safety cabinet, fume hood, or downdraft table. In areas where local exhaust systems are not feasible, appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn.
As applicable, Animal Research Personnel are instructed to:
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Wear personal protective equipment in all locations where animals are housed or where exposure to animal allergies may occur;
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Wear disposable gloves when handling animals, animal tissues or animal fluids;
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Wear a surgical mask and face shield in all non-human primate housing areas;
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Keep hands away from mouth, nose and eyes;
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Refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses, applying cosmetics, or taking or applying medicine in areas where research animals are located;
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Wash hands thoroughly after handling animals, animal tissues or animal fluids; and
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Use and dispose of sharps properly and in accordance with GUMC regulated medical waste guidelines.
Allergies to animal dander are common and may increase with long term exposure to animals. Wearing respirator, face masks and/or gloves may help alleviate allergy symptoms. Use of a respirator without clearance is prohibited.
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Bite and Scratch Procedures
Personnel who receive an animal bite that punctures the skin or a needle stick should:
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Identify the animal species and ID #.
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Clean the wound.
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Report to the GU Hospital Emergency Room or his/her private physician. An incident report should be completed by the treating physician.
Personnel bitten by a non-human primate, scratched by a non-human primate or by non-human primate equipment, or who has any mucous membranes exposed to non-human primate secretions (e.g. urine, saliva, feces) are instructed to:
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Immediately report the incident to a DCM Clinical Veterinarian or DCM Veterinary Technician.
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Follow the instructions for wound care management found in the "Bite and Scratch Kit" located adjacent to the animal rooms.
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Report to the GU Hospital Emergency Room or his/her own private physician for evaluation for Herpes B infection. He/she should take with him/her a copy of the B Virus Exposure Protocol. An incident report should be completed by the treating physician.
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Reporting Procedures for Animal-Related Illness or Injury
For injury reporting purposes, a "Supervisor's Report of Occupational Injury and Illness" form must be completed by you and your supervisor. The form must then be turned in to the Department of Risk Management.
Research personnel who become ill or injured due to animal contact or animal allergen exposure should inform their primary care physician about their occupational exposure to animals.
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For More Information
For additional information about the Occupational Health Program, contact Dr. Phil Witorsch, Medical Director for the Occupational Health Program, through Ms. Simona Diggs, Program Coordinator, at 202-687-1734.
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