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Policy and Procedure ManualChapter 290, Health and Safety Services Responsible Department: Environmental
Health and Safety This section outlines the medical surveillance requirements for individuals having animal contact and the services available to meet these requirements. Services for this purpose are provided by campus Employee Health Services for all UCD personnel. For the purpose of this section, "individuals at increased risk" refers to employees and students who in the course of their employment, research, or education are exposed to live vertebrate animals in a way that exposes them to an increased risk of an occupational illness, such as a zoonotic disease, physical injury by the animal, or an animal allergy. A. Deciding whether a particular category of workers or students falls into an "increased risk" category requires an objective evaluation of the nature of the exposure and the types of animals involved. Supervisors and instructors are encouraged to consult with Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) and Employee Health Services for guidance in risk assessment. B. As a general rule, individuals working with animals as a component of their employment should be enrolled in the Occupational Health Program, as described below. C. Students whose only exposure to animals will be participation in a teaching exercise will not normally be required to enroll in the Occupational Health Program, but they should be provided with information about any health considerations relative to the species with which they will be working. For example, students working with birds in a classroom setting should be provided with information about psittacosis, and students working with sheep should be provided with information about Q fever. (Veterinary students are a special case who receive additional special services, such as rabies vaccination, under the direction of Cowell Student Health Center.) D. Students who are also employees will be subject to the same risk assessment and enrollment criteria as other employees. Some students, by virtue of volunteering in laboratories, participating in 199 classes, or conducting individual research projects, may be exposed to increased risk equal to that of employees. Such students will be required to enroll in the Occupational Health Program. In all cases, the decision to enroll or not to enroll will be based on risk assessment of the work rather than on the employment status of the worker. E. Instructors seeking information about animal-associated health risks should contact EH&S. It is the policy of UC Davis to comply with all pertinent Federal, State, and local statutes, standards, and regulations regarding the provision of personnel health programs for individuals who have animal contact. A. Notification of Occupational Health Physician Supervisors of individuals at increased risk, as discussed above, must require those individuals to notify the Occupational Health Physician, Employee Health Services, by submitting an Animal Contact Medical Review Form (available from Employee Health Services or EH&S or on the World Wide Web at http://ehs.ucdavis.edu/animal/health/). Supervisors must also notify the Occupational Health Physician when individuals discontinue activities involving animal contact. B. Costs for Preventive Medical Treatment Except in the case of treatment of work-incurred illness or injury, preventive medical services provided by Employee Health Services for employees are on a fee-for- service basis paid by the departments involved. In cases where students are subject to increased risk sufficient to merit their enrollment in the Occupational Health Program (certain 199 students, certain special research projects), the involved department will be responsible for any associated fees. The "involved department" is considered the department whose faculty member holds the Protocol for Animal Use and Care (see Section 290-30) under which the animals are being used. C. Training Supervisors of employees and students at increased risk must provide training about zoonoses, personal hygiene, and other considerations, such as precautions to be taken by pregnant women. Occupational hazards, including animal bites and allergies, should be recognized and methods for preventing and treating them should be discussed. Supervisors may contact EH&S for assistance in conducting this training. D. Personal Hygiene High standards of personal cleanliness among individuals at increased risk are necessary to maintain human and animal health. Clothing suitable for use in the animal facility must be provided along with appropriate laundry arrangements and locker storage space for street clothing, when necessary. (See Section 290-50, Protective Clothing and Equipment.) Eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited in animal contact areas. E. Physical Examinations and Medical History All individuals at increased risk must complete an Animal Contact Medical Review Form (see B, above) and submit it to Employee Health Services. The Occupational Health Physician will then prescribe subsequent actions to be taken. These actions may range from counseling to tetanus vaccination and serum banking. Additional histories and physical examinations, immunizations, and laboratory studies may be required at appropriate intervals, as determined by the Occupational Health Physician. Such additional medical service is subject to review by the Biological Safety Administrative Advisory Committee. (See Section 290-55.) F. Treatment of Illness or Injury 1. Individuals must notify their supervisor of suspected zoonosis or any illness accompanied by diarrhea, numbness, faintness, stiff neck or joints, cough, or fever. If the disease is thought to be work-related, it must be reported immediately to Employee Health Services. 2. Injured persons must report to Employee Health Services for treatment or referral. (Refer to Section 370-20 or UCDHS Hospital Policies & Procedures Manual Section 2942 for procedures for reporting injuries.) Bites and scratches should be flushed immediately with water and then scrubbed with soap and water prior to reporting for treatment. 3. Supervisors must report work-related illness or injury to the Workers' Compensation Unit within 24 hours, as outlined in Section 370-20. For further information, contact Employee Health Services or the Office of the Campus Veterinarian, EH&S. A. Section 290-30, Use and Care of Animals in Teaching and Research. B. Section 290-50, Protective Clothing and Equipment. C. Section 290-55, Biological Safety. D. Section 290-60, Occupational and Preventive Medicine. E. Section 370-20, Workers' Compensation. Copyright © 2006 The Regents of the
University of California, Davis Campus. All Rights Reserved. |
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