The program for individuals who use animals in research and teaching has been established to provide those individuals with a medical monitoring and medical advice program. The program has been designed to minimize any potential problems associated with handling animals. Potential hazards of working with laboratory animals or tissues from laboratory animals include but are not limited to bites, scratches, kicks, allergic reactions, and possible zoonotic diseases.

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) administers the occupational health program for animal handlers and is also responsible for maintenance of all records. The confidential relationship among the occupational health physician, the patient, and EHS is maintained in all cases except where health conditions may result in risks to the patient or the laboratory animals in the facility. Except in those very limited situations, all records are confidential, and release of the records will require consent of the patient to the extent permitted by law.

Participants in the program will receive a physical examination, and a health history will be taken at the time of initial enrollment in the program. The history will be directed towards the types of animals the handler will be exposed to and potential risks to the individual. Counseling and informational handouts will be provided to participants.

The program is recommended for all faculty, staff, and students who have substantial contact with laboratory animals or laboratory animal tissues. The program is mandatory for all Laboratory Animal Resource (LAR) employees and for individuals who have contact with nonhuman primates. Substantial contact is defined as animal contact occurring at a minimum frequency of three times per week or two hours or more of weekly animal contact. Individuals who do not participate in the program are asked to sign a statement stating that he/she was informed of the program and chose not to participate. Individuals who meet the definition of substantial animal contact and who are either required or desire to participate in the program are required to contact the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.