EduSafe @ Curtin
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EduSafe Policies and Procedures @ Curtin

Safety in Animal Houses

1. POLICY

1.1 Policy Statement

The University will adopt measures to ensure that animal houses meet all relevant health and safety requirements to be safe and disease free.

1.2 Policy Objectives

1.2.1 To safeguard the health and safety of staff, students and visitors in line with the University's policy on Occupational Health and Safety.

1.2.2 To meet the University's obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, the Curtin University of Technology Academic Staff (Conditions of Employment) Award 1999, the Australian Universities Academic Staff (Contract of Employment and Other Matters) Interim Award 1988, the Australian Universities Academic Staff (Conditions of Employment) Award 1988, and the Curtin University of Technology General Staff Enterprise Agreement 1997, and as amended from time to time.

2. GUIDELINES

2.1 General Principles

2.1.1 Safety Regulations

General rules for laboratory safety, as outlined in Australian Standard AS2243-1990, Parts 1 to 10 "Safety in Laboratories" and the University's policy and procedures Safety in Laboratories in the Occupational Health and Safety Policies and Procedures manual, apply equally to animal houses.

2.1.2 Special Considerations

Special attention must be given to the disposal of waste, decontamination of cages, the requirements of good ventilation to meet the standards of the day and manual handling requirements.

2.1.3 Animal House Requirements

All animal houses must have the following:

  1. Separation between general work areas, such as desks or laboratory benches, and animal handling or animal rooms.
  2. Clear demarcation of restricted areas, including sign posting, with controlled access to these restricted areas.
  3. Emergency evacuation procedures and ready access to first aid facilities and medical care.
  4. An induction program to show new staff and students correct animal handling techniques.
  5. Where possible, an animal technician who is experienced with the appropriate species who will assist in or at least be consulted for all experimental procedures involving animals.
  6. Prohibition of smoking, eating, drinking or the application of cosmetics in the animal house.
  7. Comprehensive waste removal and decontaminating procedures.
  8. Regular training in manual handling techniques.
  9. Training and monitoring programs for cleaners to ensure compliance with regulations and safe working practices.
  10. A program for the regular maintenance of equipment.

2.1.4 Safe Working Practices in Animal Houses

Humans are susceptible to some of the infectious diseases suffered by animals. In susceptible individuals this can lead to various degrees of Laboratory Animal Allergy (LAA), otherwise known as Hypersensitivity to Laboratory Animals (HLA). Staff and students need to be protected against these diseases, just as the animals need to be free of extraneous contamination for experimentation. It is therefore essential that the following safe work practices are carried out.

  1. All those in contact with animals must be immunised against tetanus and tuberculosis.
  2. All staff and students must wear adequate clothing, by which is meant, at a minimum, cotton-lined gloves (preferably Nitrile) and gown or overalls.
  3. Masks must be made available to and worn at all times by staff and students.
  4. Safety footwear must be worn when dealing with large animals.
  5. All protective clothing must be removed before leaving the animal house and laundered or disposed of in a manner suited to the type of contamination and clothing.
  6. Animal carcasses, dressings and organs that accrue from research work must be securely packed and then incinerated by an appropriately licenced agency.
  7. Animals trapped in the wild must be routinely quarantined, pending a clinical and micro-biological assessment.
  8. All animals dying unexpectedly must be autopsied by experienced and appropriately trained staff.

2.1.5 Biological Hazards

  1. Where the work is biologically hazardous, the cages and racks must be demountable and capable of being sterilised using an autoclave. When in use, cages and racks must be labelled to indicate the infectiousness of their contents.
  2. All refuse and carcasses must be carefully disposed of in the correct manner, preferably by autoclaving and incineration.

2.2 Payment of Related Costs

All associated costs relating to this policy will be met by the appropriate Department or School.

2.3 Responsibility of Heads of School

Heads of School will be responsible for the implementation of the University's policy on Safety in Animal Houses within their Schools.

2.4 Related Regulations and Policies

Standards Australia - Australian Standard AS2243-1990 Parts 1 to 10 "Safety in Laboratories"

Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee (Commonwealth Department of Administrative Services) - Guidelines

Curtin - General Policies and Procedures manual - Biosafety Committee.

Occupational Health and Safety Policy and Procedures manual (to be published) - Biological Hazards, Disposal of Hazardous Medical Wastes.

2.5 Responsible Officer

The Director, Workplace Relations is the responsible officer for the control and administration of the University's policy on Safety in Animal Houses.

2.6 Authority for Approving Amendments to the Policy and Guidelines on Safety in Animal Houses

The Academic Senate is the authority for approving amendments to the University's policy and guidelines on Safety in Animal Houses.

2.6.1 Inclusion of Policy Statement in Policy Manual

Once approved by the Academic Senate, the policy statement on Safety in Animal Houses will be included in the Occupational Health and Safety Policies and Procedures manual.

2.6.2 Endorsement of Proposed Amendments by Occupational Safety and Health Policy Committee

Any proposed amendments to this policy should be endorsed by the Occupational Safety and Health Policy Committee and the Biosafety Committee with consultation and agreement from the Health and Safety Representatives committees prior to presentation to the Academic Senate for approval.

2.7 Effective Date

The policy on Safety in Animal Houses came into effect immediately upon being approved by Council, being 27 November 1996.

2.8 Review of Policy

The policy on Safety in Animal Houses will be reviewed every two years by the Director, Workplace Relations, the Occupational Safety and Health Policy Committee and the Biosafety Committee, and the outcome of the review will be reported to the Academic Senate.

3. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

3.1 Authority for Approving Amendments to the Administrative Procedures on Safety in Animal Houses

The Occupational Safety and Health Policy Committee and the Biosafety Committee are the authority for approving amendments to the administrative procedures of the University's policy on Safety in Animal Houses.

Approved - C 262/96 (27/11/96) – Appendix 6 to Council minutes.
21/12/00 – titles updated.
1/1/01 – approval authority updated [URB 95/00 (5/12/00, effective 1/1/01)].
 

 

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