The University of New Mexico/Health Science Center’s occupational health and safety program includes a comprehensive program for individuals having animal contact in association with University-sponsored activities. The program is a part of and coordinated with the Animal Facility Safety Program. The requirements of the program are based on the National Research Council (NRC) guidelines: Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals (1997) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute of Health (CDC/NIH) guidelines: Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (1993).

The Animal Care Occupational Safety and Health Committee (ACOSH) is a sub-committee of UNM Biosafety Committee. The ACOSH Committee consists of representatives from the Animal Resource Facility, UNM Program in Occupational and Environmental Health, UNM Student Health, UNM Employee Occupational Health Services, University Hospital Employee Health Services, UNM Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs Department, UNM Biomedical Sciences Research and Graduate Program and UNM Main Campus Veterinarian.

The occupational health and safety program’s goal is to prevent occupational injury and illness. The program consists of:

1. Risk Assessment - defining and quantifying hazards
2. Safety Program - avoiding and controlling hazards and exposures
3. Training and Education – risk assessment communication
4. Rules and Guidelines - safe work practices and procedures
5. Medical Monitoring – health assessment program
6. Recordkeeping – monitor safety programs and identify deficiencies

Individuals covered by the program includes any person who has direct exposure to vertebrate animals, animal tissues, body fluids or wastes – faculty, full-time and part-time employees*, custodial and physical plant employees, students, volunteers or visitors. Individuals involved in isolated one-time contact shall be informed of specific health precautions and appropriate vaccinations or medical constraints. Isolated one-time contact will not require participation in the medical monitoring program.

*UNM employee is defined as anyone receiving a paycheck from the University of New Mexico – see Policy #3630, University Business Policies and Procedures Manual.

The Principal Investigator (PI) is required to identify hazards associated with his/her research protocol and select the appropriate safeguards for those working in the project. Evaluations of animal specific hazards and protocol hazards will have a collaborative evaluation and recommendations for safety procedures completed by the investigators, institutional veterinarian, animal care supervisor, occupational medicine physician and the institutional health and safety professional.

All employees of the Animal Resource Facility are provided, by the Institution, shower facilities, work clothes including shoes, changing facilities, laundry services for work clothes, respirators and all needed disposable personal protective equipment (PPE). The PI, as required by the risk analysis of the animal and research protocol hazards, provides all persons covered by the program the appropriate PPE.

All persons covered by this program will have a respirator fitness medical evaluation and respirator fit testing as indicated by the risk analysis of the animal and research protocol hazards and OSHA regulations. An annual review of respirator fitness will be conducted in conjunction with an annual review any new symptoms related to developing allergies to animals or latex.

All work practices follow protocol as outlined in the University of New Mexico Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs Manual and specifically within the Biosafety Program (3.01 of the UNM Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs Manual. Persons working within the Animal Resource Facility are included in the Respirator Protection Program and the Hearing Conservation Program and are reevaluated yearly.

All individuals who use research animals are required to complete health and safety training sessions at the start of employment/research project and yearly. These include specific instructions related to the animals (i.e. pregnant sheep and Q fever), health risks related to research protocol (i.e. Hanta virus) and practices and procedures of a safe work environment. Training is in conjunction with the Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs Department.

Established rules and guidelines will have strict adherence to ensure safety in the workplace. Work procedures, use of disinfectants and decontaminants, access to facility operations, waste disposal, use and maintenance of equipment and safety devices, emergency procedures, reporting of accidents and exposures and personal hygiene practices will follow policy as outlined in the UNM Biosafety Program.

All individuals who use research animals shall be included in a health assessment program. The program shall include a comprehensive medical evaluation to ensure that the individual does not have medical problems that would create a health risk when working with animals. The health assessment provides baseline medical information to aid in the treatment of animal exposure-associated injury or illness. This is highly recommended for individuals in high health risk animal exposure conditions (i.e. exposure to non-human primates, pregnant sheep and goats and unvaccinated carnivores).

Annual medical monitoring will cover all individuals who are in contact with research animals. The extent of the medical monitoring is based on the health hazard risk evaluation and the individual’s medical history. Respirator fitness and evaluation of developing animal or latex allergies will be conducted yearly for all individuals involved in the care and use of research animals.

All UNM employees are provided occupational health services through UNM Employee Occupational Health Service (EOHS) (hours 8: 00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday). All University Hospital employees are provided occupational health services through Employee Health Services (EHS) (hours 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday-Friday). All undergraduate and graduate students receive medical care through Student Health (SH) (hours 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday). The University Hospital Emergency Department provides treatment for injuries or exposures at night, on weekends or holidays. Serum for banking and titers is stored at the New Mexico State Laboratory.

Isolated one-time contact will not require participation in the medical monitoring program. However, individuals involved in isolated one-time exposures shall be informed of potential dangers and medical precautions, including immunization recommendations. All individuals should have current tetanus immunization (within ten years of immunization or booster). The primary responsible party (principal investigator, research director, student research coordinator, etc.) shall be responsible for assuring compliance with the notification requirements for these individuals

Private contractors will provide their employees with the appropriate training and protective clothing to work in areas where animals are housed or utilized for research. Animal Resources Facility and the Program in Occupational and Environmental Health will serve as additional resource in assistance if requested. In the event of exposure or injury the contractors employee will be referred to the Employee Occupational Health Services or University Hospital Emergency Department.

*The Public Health Service Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends immunization against tetanus every ten years. An immunization is also recommended if a particularly tetanus-prone injury occurs in an individual where more that five years has elapsed since immunization.

**The ACIP recommends rabies titer every two years to determine the need for booster vaccine.

Any occupational injury, illness or hazardous exposure must be reported at once to the immediate supervisor as per University protocol. Reporting all accidents to the supervisor is necessary and must be prompt and accurate in order to insure proper handling of all claims. In the event of serious injury, medical assistance should be sought immediately. For UNM employees all on the job injuries or illnesses are evaluated and treated and referrals made through EOHS. If medical care is needed at night, weekend or on a holiday and obtained through UH Emergency Department all follow-up care must be at EOHS. University Hospital employees are evaluated, treated and referrals at EHS for all on the job injuries or illnesses. Students with any animal injury, illness or hazardous exposure related to student projects are evaluated and treated at Student Health *. In the event of exposure to any zoonosis a prompt medical evaluation and treatment are instituted with feedback to the Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs Department for their evaluation and correction of the worksite.

*(If a student is employed by UNM and the injury, illness or exposure occurred during

employment – see Policy #3630 – medical care is provided at EOHS)

Incidence and prevalence of adverse health outcomes are assessed regularly. The Program in Occupational and Environmental Health in conjunction with the Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs Department regularly reviews incident reports, "near miss" reports, OSHA 200 logs, and workers compensation data to guide preventive programs.