Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals - Office of ...

ANIMAL CARE ANd USE PROGRAM 23et al. 2002). PPE should be used to supplement, not replace, engineeringor process controls (Harrison 2001; Reeb-Whitaker et al. 1999). If PPE forrespiratory protection is necessary, appropriate fit testing and training shouldbe provided.Zoonosis surveillance should be a part of an OHSP (DHHS 2009; NRC1997). Personnel should be instructed to notify their supervisors of potentialor known exposures and of suspected health hazards and illnesses. Nonhumanprimate diseases that are transmissible to humans can be serious hazards(NRC 2003a). Animal technicians, veterinarians, investigators, students,research technicians, maintenance workers, and others who have contactwith nonhuman primates or their tissues and body fluids or who have dutiesin nonhuman primate housing areas should be routinely screened for tuberculosis.Because of the potential for exposure to Macacine herpesirus 1 (formerlyCercopithecine herpesirus 1 or Herpes B virus), personnel who workwith or handle biologic samples (blood and tissues) from macaques shouldhave access to and be instructed in the use of bite and scratch emergency carestations (Cohen et al. 2002). Injuries associated with macaques, their tissuesor body fluids, or caging and equipment with which the animals have haddirect contact, should be carefully evaluated and appropriate postexposuretreatment and follow-up implemented (ibid.; NRC 2003a).Clear procedures should be established for reporting all accidents, bites,scratches, and allergic reactions (NRC 1997), and medical care for suchincidents should be readily available (Cohen et al. 2002; DHHS 2009).Personnel SecurityWhile contingency plans normally address natural disasters, they shouldalso take into account the threats that criminal activities such as personnelharassment and assault, facility trespassing, arson, and vandalism poseto laboratory animals, research personnel, equipment and facilities, andbiomedical research at the institution. Preventive measures should be considered,including preemployment screening and physical and informationtechnology security (Miller 2007).Inestigating and Reporting Animal Welfare ConcernsSafeguarding animal welfare is the responsibility of every individualassociated with the Program. The institution must develop methods forreporting and investigating animal welfare concerns, and employees shouldbe aware of the importance of and mechanisms for reporting animal welfareconcerns. In the United States, responsibility for review and investigationof these concerns rests with the IO and the IACUC. Response tosuch reports should include communication of findings to the concerned