RAR Home

Hazardous agents

Anesthetics

Protective clothing

Medical Surveillance and Vaccinations

Bites and Injuries

Allergies

Security and Safety

Zoonoses

RAR Policy on Use of Image Capturing Devices

Nonhuman Primate Biosafety
 

Copyright 2008, University of Minnesota Board of Regents.

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Occupational Health and Safety

Federal Regulations mandate that all persons having contact with animals in research be enrolled in an occupational health program. The University of Minnesota's Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP) consists has two major components - a training component and a medical component.

The training component is web based and involves self education on various hazards that may be associated with animal use in research. The content of the training is based on the particular species of animal or other risk factors involved in individual research projects. Once the material is reviewed, the training is self reported through the ROHP system. Individuals are notified regarding which parts of the training they need to complete. The training material is available on this web site.

The medical component of ROHP is conducted by Health Partners. Individuals will be notified regarding which medical requirements need to be completed and how to consult with a health care provider at Health Partners. Forms to assist employees with meeting ROHP Requirements may be found at the Office of Occupational Health and Safety website.

Training 

• Laboratory safety training is required for all personnel working in research laboratories.  Topics such as safety and waste management are covered.  This training is offered by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (DEHS) on a monthly basis.  Click here for a schedule
• Animal handling training is available from RAR. This training is required to work with nonhuman primates and spf rodents. Additional information on restraint and handling of common laboratory animals is available here.
• Diseases transmissible from humans to animals are called zoonoses.  All personnel should be familiar with zoonotic diseases present in the species they work with and the means of preventing them.  An RAR veterinarian or Health Partners can provide additional information on these diseases.

Hazardous agents

• Radiation- Radiation Protection Division, DEHS. ph 625-6764 
• Infectious agents and Recombinant DNA require approval by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). 
• Animals infected with biohazardous agents must be handled using appropriate biosafety procedures.
• Chemical Hygiene plan DEHS Instructions
• Waste disposal- Hazardous Waste Division   ph: 624-6060 
• Hazardous Anesthetics 
• All gas anesthetics should be used with appropriate waste gas scavenging systems.
• Ether must be used in a fume hood and stored appropriately.  
• If animals are euthanized with ether, the carcass must be left in an open container within a fume hood for 30 minutes to allow the ether to evaporate, before they are bagged and placed within a carcass cooler. 
• [General ether information]
• Urethane is a carcinogen.  It should only be handled in a fume hood using gloves.  It should not be used for anesthesia in survival studies.

Sharps handling and disposal

The use of sharps, such as needles, scalpels and glass can present a risk to personnel if handled and disposed of improperly.  In research settings, sharps may be contaminated with animal blood or body fluids, or with unknown substances.  It is always safest to assume they are a potential hazard. 
To prevent exposure of personnel to these agents and to prevent sharps and biohazards from showing up in the environment and/or being used by unauthorized personnel, proper disposal procudures must be followed.  The standard guidelines are provided below and from DEHS.  A video is available from EHS or from RAR's library (call 624-9100) demonstrating these guidelines.

                     Procedures

• Safety practices should be customized for a laboratory and written into the labs SOPs.
• The less you handle sharps, the less likely you are to have an accident.
• Use adequate restraint when working with an animal.
• Place your sharps in a carrying container prior to use, rather than carrying them in your hand or pocket.
• Do not recap or remove needles from syringes after use.
• Place all sharps immediately into a sharps container. (Bring one with you to the area you are working in. Yes, even to the dog's run).
• If you must remove a needle use a mechanical device. (A forceps).
• Use an approved sharps container, and use it only for sharps (so you don't get in the habit of reaching in for your lunch). Seal it before it is completely full. (Rather than trying to stuff more in, get a new one when the old one is 3/4 full).
• If you do injure yourself with a sharp object, clean the wound immediately and seek medical attention. Review the DEHS Needlestick procedures. 
• If you know what the hazard is indicate that to your care provider.
• If the sharp object was contaminated with body fluids from a nonhuman primate follow the instructions in the “Bite Kit” in the animal housing area, or contact RAR at 4-9100 for assistance.

Protective Clothing

The use of gowns, masks, gloves, shoe covers and head protection all provide barriers to the transmission of disease to humans, as well as preventing animal diseases from being carried back and forth between animal housing areas. Rooms with protective clothing requirements include: 

• Nonhuman primate rooms- gloves, hair cover, mask, gown, shoe covers, eye protection required
• SPF rodent rooms- sleeves, gloves, mask and hair cover required when working in a hood, gown or dedicated laboratory coat recommended
• Biohazard rooms- gloves, hair cover, mask, gown, shoe coveres required, eye protection recommended
• Other rooms with specific diagnosed disease problems, i.e orf in sheep .

Medical Surveillance and Vaccination

Research Animal Resources, the IACUC and the Office of Occupational Health and Safety cooperate to provide surveillance and vaccinations for common zoonotic diseases that present risk to research animal users. Animal users must complete an Animal Exposure Questionnaire and do online training. Personnel will receive reminders and be offered free vaccination and testing procedures as detailed below. Additional information on common zoonoses and means of prevention are listed here and here.

• Tetanus vaccine is needed every 10 years, and may be boosted after injuries.  This vaccine is required for all personnel with animal contact, unless it may not be administered for health reason.
• Tuberculosis screening All personnel in contact with nonhuman primates must be screened for tuberculosis to prevent infection of animals in the colony (the animals are also screened semi-annually).  Intradermal skin testing (Mantoux) is performed every six months, or thoracic radiography every two years.
• Rabies prophylaxis vaccination is offered to all personnel in contact with dogs and cats.  Follow-up titers are performed every 2 years to determine if booster vaccination is needed.  This vaccination is not required, however, if personnel decline the vaccine, they will be asked to sign a waiver indicating that they have been informed of the risks.
• Toxoplasmosis testing is available to all women of child-bearing age working with cats.  Counseling on preventing exposure of pregnant women to infection by Toxoplasma gondii is also available.

Bites and Injuries

In addtion:

• For dog and cat bites, notify RAR (4-9100) so the animal can be quarantined for rabies surveillance.
• For nonhuman primate bites (MACAQUE ONLY), scratches or exposure of mucous membranes to primate body fluids, ALWAYS SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.  Follow instructions in “bite kits” located in housing area to prevent infection with cercopithecine herpesvirus I (B virus).

Allergies

• Allergies to laboratory animals may develop with prolonged exposure.  Personnel who already have allergies to other things may be at increased risk for developing allergies to animals.  It is important to consult with your doctor about suspected allergies (cold-like symptoms, difficulty breathing, rashes).  Allergies can be managed through procedures such as desensitization, antiallergic medication, and prevention of exposure using personal protective clothing and equipment.
• The Occupational Health & Safety office manages a Respiratory Protection Program for employees.
• Allergies can develop to latex gloves and other materials.  Staff should be familiar with the signs of latex allergies and the means of preventing it.

Security and Safety

• Any emergencies such as fire, natural disasters, personnel injury or security breaches should be reported to the University Police by calling 911.  Be sure to inform the dispatcher if animals are in the area.  The dispatcher will contact RAR to address animal health and safety issues. 
• Also review the Research Animal Program Emergency Guide

Zoonoses

Any personnel with a compromised immune system (e.g. pregnancy, taking anti-cancer drugs or corticosteroids, having an immune deficiency disease like HIV infection) should consult with their physician or with a Health Partners physician about their work with animals.

Links to additional resources on zoonoses:

[UC Davis Risk Assessment Tool] [U of Arizona Animal Hazard Page] [Zoonosis Bibliography] [Centers for Disease Control]
 

ORF

All persons working with infected sheep (the cage or room will be marked) should protect their hands by wearing gloves and washing hands as soon as possible after exposure. All equipment used on sheep should be washed and decontaminated. It should be remembered that gates and pens also may harbor the virus - gloves should be worn at all times working in the animal rooms.

RAR Policy on Use of Image Capturing Devices

The capturing of images (including photographs, video recordings, movies, or other images of any kind in any media) is strictly prohibited in all areas of the Research Animal Resources facilities, without prior approval of the Director for each instance. This policy applies to the capturing of images using any and all devices capable of recording images including, but not limited to, film cameras, digital cameras, video recording devices with or without audio recording, cell phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) with picture capabilities. The Research Animal Resources Director established this policy to protect the integrity and confidentiality of university research, provide a minimally disruptive atmosphere for animal residents, and promote a safe and respectful workplace.

Top of page