Training: Occupational Safety & Health
If you are visiting SVSU or work on the premises you should know about potential exposure to hazards and risks associated with the facilities and you should participate in the IACUC Occupational Safety & Health (OS&H) program.
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals requires that "an occupational health program must be part of the overall animal care and use program." The goal of the occupational health and safety (OH&S) program is to prevent occupational injury and illness by avoiding, controlling or eliminating hazards in the workplace as well as to provide for early diagnosis and treatment when necessary. To assure compliance with this requirement, it is the policy of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee to provide procedural recommendations to the Institutional Official for a risk-based OH&S program to be offered to all students and employees who work with laboratory animals in the course of their association with Saginaw Valley State University.
Policy Procedures
Responsibility -The institution is responsible for providing an occupational health and safety program (OH&S) for the animal care and use program. The OH&S program is administered by Sponsored Programs through the CITI Online Training Program http://www.citiprogram.org. The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) makes recommendations to the IO concerning the procedures involved in the OH&S program.
Participation -All students and employees who work with laboratory animals in the course of their association with Saginaw Valley State University are offered the opportunity to participate. The extent and level of participation of personnel in the OH&S program is based on risk assessment by the Principal Investigator. All laboratory personnel are required to have pre-employment medical evaluation.
Participants
Visitors – must obtain OH&S informational letter from the Facility Director or designee; Sign-in sheet verifying availability of information
Employees (Faculty, Staff, and Students) and Animal Users - All information available to visitors as listed above and additional items listed below. Annual training - includes reminders of updating risk assessment with changes in medical conditions or animal exposure intensity.
Laboratory facility users, principal investigators (PI), maintenance personnel - Identification through experimental hazards assessment in the Animal Use Protocol (AUP) evaluated by IACUC
Risk Assessment
AUPs - assess experimental hazards - Approval number required; Descriptions of safety procedures, personal protective equipment, and knowledge of zoonotic risks required in AUP
Work Environment (non-experimental hazards) - Laboratory facilities evaluated semi-annually by on-site visits by IACUC.
Personnel - medical history evaluated by physician. Medical History Form will provide baseline information that will be useful when any changes in medical conditions or animal exposure intensity occur.