Animal Care & Use Program

I. Policy

It is the policy of California State University, Northridge (CSUN) to protect employees and students from occupational injuries and illnesses. The primary focus of this program is the safety of faculty, staff, and students to prevent avoidable risks, accidental injury, or illness. No employee or student will be required to perform any task that would be considered unsafe or unreasonably hazardous. 

To accomplish this, each employee or student that works in an animal laboratory or has substantial animal contact shall be provided with the proper materials, equipment, and training in accordance with federal and state requirements. This program also follows the guidelines set forth by the National Institute of Health (NIH).

The purpose of this program is to establish a uniform set of guidelines for the handling and use of laboratory and wild animals at CSUN. This program will provide information regarding the required pre-employment and periodic physicals and vaccinations, personal protective equipment, training, mechanism for reporting injuries and illnesses, zoonoses surveillance, and monitoring for biological, physical and chemical exposures.

This program will establish regulatory authority and responsibility of persons designated to implement and manage this program. It will assist in safeguarding the overall health and safety of the employees that may come in contact with laboratory and wild animals.

II. Authority

California Code of Regulations Title 8 sections 1510, 1511, and 3203 enforced by the California Occupational and Safety Health Agency (Cal/OSHA). These regulations provide guidelines for the general protection of personnel who work in laboratory animal facilities or have substantial animal contact.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) Public Health Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (September 1986) and 9 Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter A govern animal care and use at the federal level.

III. Scope

The scope of the Animal Care and Occupational Health Program at CSUN focuses on all employees and employed students who utilize vertebrate animals for research and instruction.

Individuals Covered Under This Program

CSUN Employees

Enrollment in this program is mandatory for all University employees who have substantial animal contact. This includes but is not limited to faculty, staff, research assistants, technicians, post-doctoral fellows, student employees, visiting faculty, and any others involved with animals as defined under this policy. Volunteers or visiting clients should be apprised of health and safety issues by the appropriate contact person at the animal site.

TUC Employees

Enrollment in this program is mandatory for all Corporation employees who have substantial animal contact. This includes but is not limited to faculty, staff, research assistants, technicians, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, student employees, visiting faculty, professional degree students, and any others involved with animals as defined under this policy. Volunteers or visiting clients should be apprised of health and safety issues by the appropriate contact person at the animal site.

Students

CSUN students will not normally be required to enroll in the animal occupational health and safety program if their only exposure to animals is limited to structured scheduled credit-courses. However, the class instructor should provide them with information about any health considerations relative to the species with which they will be working. If a student is working with animals in a research setting and have substantial animal contact they will be required to enroll in this program.

IV. Enrollment Process

Participants will be formally enrolled using the CSUN Animal Handler’s Job Duty Form for each individual who is listed on an IACUC Protocol for Animal Use and Care form, or an employee position description that sates working directly with animals. The Animal Handler’s Job Duty Form is to be completed at the time a new Protocol is submitted for review, when new personnel are added to the Protocol, or when requested during the hiring or employee review process. The principal investigator, or department chair must complete this form.

1. EHS will enroll animal care personnel covered by the scope of this policy.
2. Instructors of classes using animals will be responsible for providing the class students with information about:
   • species specific information
   • personal hygiene information
   • risk issues to humans

V. Responsibilities

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)

• Develop and implement the Animal Use and Occupational Health program with consultation with Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Provide copies of the program to departments.
• Arrange pre-employment, annual, and termination physicals as needed.
• Develop immunization schedules.
• Aid individual departments concerning implementation of the program.
• Maintain records of immunizations and physicals.
• Provide consultation and investigative action in the event of injury or illness.
• Arrange for the disposal of animal carcasses and specimens.
• Conduct exposure monitoring for personnel likely to become exposed to hazardous chemicals or radioactive materials through animal related research.

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

• For the purpose of this program, forward protocols and proposals to EHS based on perceived health risk to affected employees.
• Consult with EHS on additional precautionary measures necessary for animal research and forward proposed experimental chemical and radioactive use information to EHS.
• The IACUC may suspend a protocol if a serious violation of the Occupational Health program occurs.

Principal Investigators

• Provide and document specialized training to employees and students under their direction.
• Ensure this program is followed by affected employees and students under their direction.
• Report injuries (i.e. scratches and bites, or abnormal illnesses of employees and students) to EHS.

Vivarium Supervisor

• Conduct inspections of work and animal housing areas and associated equipment to ensure compliance with CSUN's Injury and Illness Prevention Program.
• Provide and document training to employees and students under their direction.
• Ensure this program is followed by affected employees and students under their direction.
• Report injuries (i.e. scratches and bites, or abnormal illnesses of employees and students) to EHS.
• Maintain training records for at least two years.

VI. Program

Pre-Employment Physicals and Immunizations

Physical examinations and immunizations may be required of employees and students working at risk positions according to the specifications of Appendix A.

Training

An ongoing training program shall be provided which ensures that all persons working with animals are made aware of the hazards associated with such work. Principal Investigators and the Director of Animal Care shall ensure that every employee and student who works with animals will undergo training annually that, at a minimum, covers the following information:

• Hazards associated with working with animals.
• Proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
• General and specialized safety procedures.
• Incident reporting - bites, scratches, and unusual illnesses
• Record keeping.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The Principal Investigator is responsible for arranging for personal protective equipment. The provider shall ensure that this equipment is properly maintained and cleaned as necessary to ensure proper function of this equipment. Storage of this equipment shall be in a designated area. Proper PPE may include such items as clothing, eye protection, hand & foot protection, and respiratory protection. 

The level of PPE required for animal handling is dependent upon the degree of hazard present and shall be determined by the Principal Investigator in conjunction with the IACUC and EHS. The minimum level of PPE necessary when handling animals must include gloves and a lab coat. When handling an animal infected naturally or

experimentally with a class two or greater agent, respiratory protection must be donned in addition to the minimum requirements. Respiratory protection is required for handling wild indigenous rodents and associated materials such as bedding or cages.

Personal Hygiene and Housekeeping

The following personal hygiene issues apply to all workers exposed to animals and associated materials:

• No food or drink, smoking, or applying of cosmetics is allowed where animals are used or housed.
• No animals shall be kept overnight anywhere except in the designated animal rooms.
• Gloves shall be worn at all times when handling animals. All contaminated or infected substances should be handled in such a way as to minimize aerosols.
• In order to decrease the risk of contaminating street clothes and spreading contamination, laboratory coats shall be worn when working with animals. Lab coats shall be removed when leaving the work area.
• All work surfaces shall be decontaminated daily and after any spill of animal related material.
• Hand washing shall be done prior to leaving the laboratory for any reason.
• Hand to mouth infections must be guarded against by practicing safe handling techniques.

Injury and Illness Reporting

Supervisors and PIs should familiarize themselves with the procedures described in the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). Departmental IIPPs act as an overlap to the Occupational Safety program with regard to responsibilities, inspection procedures, training, corrective actions, communication and injury/illness reporting. All injuries should be reported on the appropriate form for either an Employee/Volunteer or Student/Visitor.

• Post Incident Procedures
  • For minor cuts, bites, and scratches, wash the wound with running water and apply first aid as necessary.
  • If the injury requires immediate treatment, report to the emergency room of the nearest health care facility. If an injury occurs to a student on campus, contact the Student Health Center. If faculty or staff sustain an injury, treatment can be received via Kaiser on the Job.
  • In cases where immediate help is needed, phone 911 to summon University Police. They in turn will call for Fire Department Paramedics.
  • If you are bitten by an animal that might have rabies infection, contact your supervisor or principal investigator immediately for instructions.
  • Follow posted procedures for snake bites and provide specific information to the emergency medical staff. Follow current American Red Cross procedures for incidents which occur in the field.
• Suspected Rabies Infection
  • The animal must be confined immediately, kept isolated, clearly labeled as "rabies suspect" and observed for a period of ten days. If the animal is wild, take steps to capture the suspect animal and use care while transporting the animal to an observation facility or veterinarian.
  • Students must contact Student Health Services immediately to discuss the possibilities of rabies inoculations. Faculty/staff should visit Brea Urgent Care.
• Reporting Injury or Illness
  • Report all accidents and injuries to appropriate PI immediately, and complete either the "Student Report of Injury" or "Employee Report of Injury" form available online within 24hours of the incident.

Hazardous Agents and Exposure Monitoring

• Biological Hazard
  • Allergens
    • A relatively large proportion of the population is susceptible to allergic reactions resulting from the inhalation of fungal spores, pollen grains, or animal proteins. Low molecular weight proteins from rats and mice and rabbit dander may cause acute clinical syndromes in some personnel. The symptoms can range from runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing to asthma and anaphylactic shock. Direct contact with animal hair or skin may result in hives or more serious skin rashes. Most allergies develop within the first three to four years of working with lab animals.
    • Working in well-ventilated areas, using local exhaust systems and housing animals in filter-top cages will help minimize exposure to animal allergens. The use of gloves, lab coat or coveralls, and hair covers is also important to minimize exposure. Additionally, the use of a face mask can reduce or delay these reactions; a respirator may eliminate them. 
    • Individuals should disclose known allergies to the Principal Investigator before commencing any animal work. Personnel showing allergic symptoms should contact EHS for advice.
  • Infectious Agents
    • Experimental protocols involving infectious agents are evaluated by EHS at time of IACUC protocol review to determine the required degree of containment. Guidelines for handling infectious agents are provided by the US Center for Disease Control (CDC). Contact EHS for details.
    • These guidelines specify recommended contaminants for individual agents; suitable classes of safety cabinets and handling methods are described. The University can make provision to house animals for some projects involving bio-hazardous agents. Refer to the CSUN Biohazard Safety Program for specific information on handling and disposal of infectious wastes.
  • Zoonotic Diseases
    • Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. The risk of contracting a zoonotic disease can depend on many factors. Some of these include: personnel training, use of protective equipment, facilities maintenance, animal health status, and human health status.
    • If you work with rodents or rabbits: Practically all of the smaller laboratory animals (e.g., mice, rats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs) are procured from vendors having animal colonies free of human and most animal pathogens. Thus the chance of contracting an infectious disease from a laboratory bred rodent or rabbit is very small. The most significant hazard associated with these animals is the possibility of developing or exacerbating an allergy or being bitten. 
    • If you work with reptiles, amphibians, or fish: Reptiles, especially turtles, may be carriers of Salmonella sp. Amphibians and reptiles may also carry leptospirosis and atypical tuberculosis. Aquarium water can also transmit disease. Transmission can be avoided by the use of protective clothing (including gloves) and good hygiene.
    • The following web sites provide information on zoonotic diseases:
      • http://www.absa.org/pdf/ZoonoticFactSheet.pdf - OSHA Alliance Program with ABSA
      • http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Chemical Hazards
  • A discussion of chemical hazards is included in the CSUN Chemical Hygiene Plan and Hazard Communication program. For information on any specific chemical, refer to the safety data sheet (SDS) obtainable through EHS. Manufacturers are legally required to make SDSs available (including hazard information) to anyone submitting a written request.
  • The IACUC will forward protocol information concerning the proposed nature of chemical use to the Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) at the time of review. Based on this information, EHS will conduct exposure monitoring if any risk of personnel exposure is evident and will make recommendations on the protocol to minimize exposures.
  • Carcinogens
    • Operations involving regulated carcinogens are strictly subject to Cal/OSHA regulations. EHS maintains a current classification of declared carcinogens and detailed regulations concerning their use. EHS requires specific precautions to contain the inoculation and subsequent excretion of carcinogens. The formation and excretion of carcinogens from non-carcinogenic precursors (e.g., the urinary excretion of nitrosamines following streptozotocin inoculation) must also be controlled. The use of disposable caging minimizes the problems and risks associated with waste bedding disposal and cage recycling. Guidelines are provided in the Chemical Hygiene Plan.
  • Sterilizing Agents
    • Sterilizing agents such as steam and phenolic compounds are often used in animal care facilities, present potential physical and health threats. Investigators planning these agents either in experimental procedures or as decontaminators must obtain specific instructions from the Biosafety Officer.
  • Anesthetics and Controlled Substances
    • Experimental use of anesthetics and controlled substances shall be reviewed by the Biosafety Officer for special handling and security practices.
• Physical Hazards
  • Physical Injury
    • The routine use of heavy equipment and the frequency of wet, slippery floors increases the element of risk for physical injuries in animal facilities. All physical injuries, including wounds and scratches (whether from animal bites or other causes), should be reported immediately to the Principal Investigator.
  • Radiation Hazards
    • Direct exposure to acute or chronic radiation sources is controlled by the University Radiation Safety Committee. Radioisotope, ionizing and non-ionizing equipment usage is governed by the Principal Investigator's Radiation Use Application (RUA) reviewed and approved by the Radiation Safety Committee. The RUA shall be approved before the protocol is reviewed by the IACUC.
    • Risk of radiation exposure comes from the absorption, inhalation, or ingestion of labeled compounds during animal treatment or from the handling of subsequently contaminated bedding. Animals treated with isotopes should be housed in separate rooms, which should be only wet-cleaned. High levels of hygiene and the use of separate overalls, dust masks, and rubber or plastic gloves for each room are essential to safe working conditions. Monitoring of personnel exposures to radioactive material will be conducted by the Radiation Safety Officer. Technical safety precautions and RUA applications are governed by the Radiation Safety Manual.
• GENERAL HEALTH INFORMATION
  • If you are immunocompromised due to treatment of certain diseases or as a result of chronic viral illness, special considerations may need to be made for your safety. You are encouraged to confidentially discuss your condition with the occupational health physician or your personal physician.
  • If you are pregnant or actively planning a family while working with animals, certain precautions may need to be taken during your pregnancy. You are encouraged to discuss any concerns with the occupational health physician or your personal physician.
  • Ergonomics: Animal care is a physical job. It is important to perform tasks in a manner to prevent injury. When lifting, bend your knees, not your back, and get help with loads that are heavier than you can handle. If you are performing a repetitive task, take short breaks to allow yourself to stretch or perform some other activity that will use a different set of muscles. If you are concerned about a physical aspect of your job, consult with your supervisor. It may be possible to modify the work environment or provide equipment that will assist you.

Appendix A: CSUN Animal Care and Use Occupational Health Program

Occupational Health Surveillance Program Participation

Notes:

• A = All personnel regardless of frequency or duration,
• M = Determined by the medical provider if there are special circumstances (e.g. history of allergy, asthma, immunosuppression, previous injury, etc.)
• D = Determined by the department chair (or their designee) in conjunction with the medical provider

Training must be provided including animal-specific information on the disease and health problems associated with a given species. The Principal Investigator (PI), or their designee, is responsible for ensuring that appropriate individuals receive training. On request, the Vivarium Supervisor can provide training regarding appropriate handling of animals.

Health Questionnaire - A confidential health questionnaire will be completed, based upon evaluation of the information provided to the medical provider, further medical evaluations may be necessary. The medical provider will determine the frequency of further health assessment.

Physical Exams, if necessary, will be given by the medical provider with an emphasis towards problems which may be specific to the animal species a person contacts. Exams will be given at the discretion of the medical provider or at the request of the employee or student. As a condition of employment, all individuals at risk at CSUN must receive a pre-placement examination.

T.B. Tuberculosis skin test and/or chest radiography as prescribed by the medical provider.

Vaccinations for tetanus, rabies, etc., will be offered and given per recommendations of the medical provider. All animal husbandry staff must be vaccinated for tetanus; vaccination is strongly recommended for all people involved with animal care and use.