Occupational Health and Safety (OHSP) for Animal Users
(updated 3/08)
The UMass OHSP covers all full-time, part-time, or temporary employees or students of the University of Massachusetts Amherst who have contact, in terms of physical proximity to or handling of animals in the course of their employment for research, teaching or testing purposes.
The UMass OHSP is described in detail in this institution's Animal Welfare Assurance on file at the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare at NIH.
As a new animal user at UMass Amherst you will hear an overview of the Occupational Health and Safety Program (OHSP) as part of the Basic IACUC classroom training (required for all new animal users). At this training session you will be asked to complete the “Occupational Health and Safety Program for Animal Users” participation form for review by an OHS professional at University Health Services (UHS).
The IACUC and/or Biosafety Officer in EH&S may withhold approval for the work with animals until occupational health concerns have been addressed.
UMass protects its personnel against animal use-related sickness or injury through :
• Providing pre-employment medical evaluations for animal care staff.
• Providing training in safe practices and procedures.
• Requiring participation in the OHSP for animal users.
• Reducing hazard exposure to a minimum.
• Informing personnel of specific risks related to exposure to animals and/or other hazards (e.g. zoonotic disease, risk of injury, exposure to hazardous agents).
• Screening for exposure to zoonotic diseases as appropriate.
• Requiring its employees to follow basic safety practices.
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