Occupational Health and Safety Program for Biohazard Research
All research projects involving biohazards (pathogens, recombinant/synthetic nucleic acids, potentially infectious samples, biotoxins, human/non-human primate blood, fluid, tissues and cell lines will have a risk assessment performed at the time of protocol submission and review by both the PI and the IBC Committee. Handling of animals that have been exposed to Biological Materials is highly project specific. This will be addressed during your IBC and/or IACUC Protocol review.
In addition to a risk assessment of the protocol and procedures all Personnel listed on the IBC application must also complete a risk assessment through the Occupational Health and Safety Program.
Occupational health and safety oversight is required for individuals who:
- Work with infectious agents (ABSL-2, BSL-2) or potentially infectious samples acquired in the field.
- Are exposed to human blood/fluid/tissues
- Are listed on an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) protocol
OHS personnel requirements for working with Biohazards
Personnel and Completion Requirements |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Risk Assessment |
Annual Medical Review |
Recommended Vaccine and Vaccine Form |
| Faculty, staff, and students listed on an IBC protocol | Required | Required | Required if requested by OHS Nurse |
| Frequency of Completion | At the start of work and triennially thereafter | Annually or when a change in medical status occurs (risk assessment must be on file first) | At the start of work, if work exposure changes or if requested by OHS nurse |
Risk Assessment Form
The will help evaluate the possible health risks due to animal exposures and occupational hazards. A Risk Assessment Form is required before work on a project can begin and triennially there after.
Annual Medical Review
The helps identify additional risks of an individual basis. For example, participants who are immunocompromised or are pregnant may have additional exposure risks. The questionnaire is confidentially reviewed by the Occupational Health Nurse. Annual Medical reviews are required if you have a change in your health status after you have completed an initial risk assessment and annually during the first two years there after.
Recommended Vaccines
*click to view webpage and access the Acceptance/Declination/Request for Additional Information Form.
Personnel working in research laboratories and/or ABSL-2 facilities with certain biological agents or performing research on wild caught animals are at increased risk of exposure to those agents due to the nature of their work. Vaccine recommendations are done based on the agent, strain, exposure, transmission routes, procedural hazards and health risks to the individual and the community. Vaccinations are voluntary but if a vaccine recommendation is made, individuals are required to complete the Acceptance/Declination/Request for Additional Information Form.