Occupational Health & Safety Program
Participation in the Occupational Health and Safety Program is required for all faculty, staff, visiting faculty, scientists and students who work directly with or have frequent contact with vertebrate animals, unfixed animal tissues or body fluids. This program is required by federal regulations and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The major goals of the program is to address potential risks associated with the use of animals in research settings. Examples include animal bites, scratches, allergens, and pathogens that might be transmissible to humans and other health-related risks.
The OHSP has been designed to:
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Protect individuals from work-related risks associated with research on animals.
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Protect the health of research animals from certain transmissible diseases.
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Be pertinent to the work individuals do and the species to which they are exposed.
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Be minimally intrusive.
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Be cost effective.
What do participating individuals have to do (Steps)?
1. All participants must enroll in the Medical Surveillance Program, by completing the OHSP Medical Surveillance Initial/Annual Enrollment Form. You must re-enroll in the program annually.
2. After enrollment, SHS will email the participant the Initial Health Surveillance Questionnaire.
3. Complete the mandatory Initial Health Surveillance Questionnaire and return to SHS.
4. Each questionnaire is reviewed by Student Health Services (SHS) to determine the individual’s level of potential exposure and whether further steps are necessary. If areas of concern are detected, the individual will be advised to take appropriate measures to avoid potential health risks.
5. Participant will be contacted by SHS for instructions on how to proceed.(Instructions are case-by-case based on research and answers)
We encourage any individual who has concerns about the content of the questionnaire or work-related health risks associated with working with animals, unfixed tissues or body fluids to discuss these concerns with the SHS medical professionals or a primary care physician. The contents of the questionnaire and subsequent communications between the medical provider and the individual are not shared with anyone, including the employer, supervisor or research project manager. In unusual situations that pose a serious and imminent health-related risk to the individual, co-workers or animals, the animal researcher will be asked to sign a release form that will allow the information to be shared with appropriate university personnel.
Who pays for the this program?
The cost of the OHSP, including SHS review of the Health Surveillance Questionnaire, any recommended vaccinations, tuberculosis testing or chest X-rays provided by the program, is covered by the funding department. Any additional costs will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Enrollment Form:
Employees on the main campus are required to enroll in the program initially and annually, thereafter when working with animals, using the OHSP Medical Surveillance Initial/Annual Enrollment Form .