OHS Information & Instructions

PURPOSE
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) program is a required component of the university's Program for Animal Care and Use, as is the IACUC. The primary function of OHS is to protect Texas State animal users, and others having contact with animals used for research or scholarship, by evaluating and mitigating potential risks to health and safety in

  • campus animal facilities
  • labs
  • classrooms
  • campus property containing wildife environments
  • off-campus natural areas and wildlife environments
  • other off-campus locations used for research or scholarship involving animals.

Texas State University’s Program for Animal Care and Use, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and Occupational Health and Safety Program operate under an Assurance from the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). All activities involving the care and use of animals for research and scholarship follow requirements of Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, standards set forth in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the National Research Council report, Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

REQUIREMENTS
Enrollment in the OHS program is mandatory for
who have or will have frequent or substantial contact with animals

OR

who will be exposed to potential risk to health and
safety due to direct or indirect contact with

  • living vertebrate animals in a lab, classroom, animal facility, natural wildlife area, or other off-
    campus location
  • unfixed animal tissue or animal bodily fluids
  • pathogens related to living animals, including animals extraneous to, but in the same area as,
    research or scholarship activity
  • other environmental health and safety hazards associated with the location of research or
    scholarship involving animals.

Individuals required to enroll are identified primarily through a review of animal care and use
protocols.

Research Integrity and Compliance personnel will provide all individuals required to enroll with the
necessary forms and instructions and will send information about potential risks and available
resources to visitors and others with incidental contact.

RISK ASSESSMENT/ENROLLMENT ASSESSMENT
Individuals will be assigned into one of two categories based on the activities described in animal use protocols.

Expand FAQ List

  • The IACUC will assign all animal use protocols one of the two risk categories:

    • These individuals have frequent and/or substantial contact with animals or unfixed animal tissue. As a result of frequent and/or extended duration of animal contact, all individuals who support and regularly work in animal care facilities fall into this category. Individuals in Category 1 will be required to enroll in the OHSP and have the required health assessment and be provided the opportunity to receive a tetanus immunization as well as other recommended immunizations. Special considerations may be appropriate for individuals who are immunocompromised; are pregnant or nursing; have pre-existing allergies/asthma; or have previously contracted a serious illness from working with animals.

    • Due to limited animal contact, individuals in Category 2 will be provided with information on potential health and safety issues associated with the species worked with and level of exposure. Further participation (health evaluation and immunization) is voluntary for these individuals. If they wish to receive those services, the information provided to them will include instructions on how to do so. At that point, they will follow the same process as outlined above for Category 1 individuals.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

  1. Animal Use Protocol is submitted or updated to include new individuals working on the project.   
    Note: it is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator on the Animal Protocol to make sure that all individuals working on the project are included on the protocol.
  2. Protocol is reviewed to assess potential risk to personnel
  3. Prior to initial approval of an IACUC protocol or prior to an individual being added to a previously approved protocol, Category 1 personnel will be contacted by Research Integrity and Compliance to complete enrollment procedures for the OHSP. This includes an online training and instructions how to properly complete and submit the an online enrollment form.   
    After the submission of an online enrollment form, a health questionnaire is completed by visiting the Health Center or an individual's own health care provider. This questionnaire focuses on the applicant’s medical history within their current context of their proposed animal contact, related zoonoses and other potential health hazards to determine if they require additional protections or accommodations. During the health exam/assessment, all participants will be provided an opportunity to receive a Tetanus immunization.
  4. After completion of the health questionnaire, the health care provider will complete the certification form. The certification form is sent to Research Integrity and Compliance by the Student Health Center. If personnel use their own provider, they may sent the form via email to RIC. Private health information is `shared with no one other than healthcare providers, and all documentation is transmitted and stored according to applicable Federal, State, and local HIPAA regulations.