Other ACC Info

Animal Care Committee   How to Enroll in the Occupational Health Program

Other Occupational Health Information

In order to be compliant with both PHS Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the UCHC Policy on Occupational Health Surveillance Program for Principal Investigators, Researchers, Technicians, Center for Laboratory Animal Care Staff, and Students Utilizing Animals in Research or Educational Programs, you and everyone listed on your protocol as animal users must enroll in the UCHC Occupational Health Surveillance Program for Animal Users.

It would be helpful to all animal users to perform a preliminary risk assessment prior to filling out the Mandatory Annual Certification of Enrollment (MACE).  All you need to do is click on the species that you are using.

In order to enroll, please:

1.  Obtain a copy of the MACE form.  The forms are located in your department administrator's office, the ACC office, the ORS office, and EHS.  You can call email the ACC office (ooacc@uchc.edu) for a copy.

2.  The PI and each person listed on the protocol as using laboratory animals (in consultation with the PI concerning hazards in this work) must fill out the MACE.

    NOTE 1:  The MACE may contain medical information and, as such, is subject to HIPAA rules and will be kept in your confidential medical file at Employee Health Service (EHS).  Only the information that you are enrolled in the program and whether you have accepted or declined participation in surveillance is sent to the Animal Care Committee (ACC) office for tracking purposes (e.g., page 2).

    NOTE 2:  Prior to consulting with each person listed on the protocol, the PI is advised to come to a consensus with the Biological Safety Officer (BSO) about what will be considered hazards in the ACC protocol.

    NOTE 3:  Mail the top copy (white) to EHS, attn:  Dr. Marcia Trape, MC-6210.  Mail the bottom (yellow) copy to the ACC office, MC-2806.

3.  You may participate in medical surveillance or not:  It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you participate in surveillance.  If you know you want to participate in surveillance, or if you wish to consult about participation, you must go to EHS for an appointment.  To do so, call EHS at x8005.  If no one answers, leave a message stating that you are enrolling in the occupational health surveillance program and would like an appointment, your name, your department, and an extension.  EHS will call you back and set up an appointment.  At this appointment, you will be able to discuss surveillance with a health care professional who will be able to advise each individual in the context of their particular health status, about the risks associated with working with laboratory animals, and other risks identified in the ACC protocol that you bring to the discussion. Bring the completed MACE top (white) copy with you to the EHS appointment.

    NOTE 4:  Participating in the OHS program REQUIRES that you contact EHS for an appointment.

4.  Protecting yourself with Personal Protective Equipment, including respirators is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED whether you participate in surveillance or not.  If you chose to protect yourself with a respirator or other protective equipment, you should consult in EHS, or with the Biological Safety Officer (BSO), about how to do this.  For respirators, the UCHC follows OSHA requirements for medical clearance and fit testing although your choice to wear a respirator is strictly voluntary.  Medical clearance for respirators is separate from the surveillance and involves filling out a different questionnaire which should be taken to your medical surveillance consultation along with the top (white) copy of the MACE form (you need to call ORS at x2723 to get a copy of the questionnaire).  Respirator fit testing and training is performed by the Office of Research Safety and must be done after written medical clearance is received by ORS.  You may also send the Respiratory Questionnaire directly to EHS (MC-6210) without visiting there, but if you wish to participate in surveillance, you must visit EHS.

5.  Should you decide not to participate in medical surveillance:  you may do so without speaking with EHS.  You will still need to fill out the MACE, sign that you have read the materials about the program, that you understand the risks in your research and wish to decline participation, and then send the top (white) copy of the form to EHS (MC-6210) in an envelope marked confidential and the bottom (yellow) copy of the MACE form to the ACC office (MC-2806).

6.  For those participating in surveillance, an update form will have to be filled out annually.  For those not participating in surveillance, only the contact information and the declination parts of the update form will need to be filled out annually. Whether you participate in surveillance or not, this process will enroll you in the Occupational Health Surveillance Program for Animal Users, which is required by laws governing the use of animals at the UCHC.

Please note that no new protocols or annual renewal protocols will be approved until all personnel associated with these protocols are enrolled in the Occupational Health Surveillance Program for Animal Users; therefore, please make this a priority in your laboratory. 

Please also note that enrollment in the Occupational Health Surveillance Program is yearly.  Please do not submit multiple forms to EHS or submit more than once per year. 

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Occupational / Environmental Medicine

Office of Research Safety

Animal Care Committee