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AUHSP Main > Procedures


AUHSP Procedures

It is useful to think of AUHSP by category of persons who will have direct and/or indirect contact with animals used for research and teaching. In this way Cornell can be assured that all such persons are included in AUHSP

Animal Care Staff, CARE Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians

Animal Care staff work in one or more Cornell University animal facilities, carrying out animal care or husbandry duties. Animal Care staff will be identified by the facility supervisor/manager. CARE veterinarians and technicians will be identified by the CARE business manager. This group is considered to have direct animal contact.

AUHSP Requirements

Receive and read the AUHSP Booklet.

  1. Receive and read the AUHSP Booklet.
  2. Complete Module 1 of the IACUC training.
  3. Complete a Risk Assessment Form.
  4. Engage in other training as required by EH&S and CARE. Gannett, EH&S and CARE, in consultation with an individual’s supervisor, will determine what safety procedures and equipment, including PPE, may be required, and what further training, if any, is required.
  5. Gannett may require an AUHSP Medical Evaluation.
  6. After review by Gannett of the individual’s personal risk and work environment, Gannett will determine what further medical preventative care or monitoring is required.
  7. Annually, complete the. Risk Assessment Form.
  8. Annually complete the AUHSP Medical Evaluation Form

Every five years, complete Module 1 of the IACUC training program

AUHSP Initiation

All animal care staff was sent a new AUHSP pamphlet and a Risk Assessment Form in December, 2003.

Current staff had already completed:

  1. AUHSP Medical Evaluation Form (done on an annual basis);
  2. Module 1 of the IACUC training program;
  3. other training as deemed necessary by their supervisor, EH&S or Gannett.

People named to animal protocols

People named to animal protocols may have direct and/or indirect contact with animals. These individuals are identified by the IACUC during the protocol review process.

All of the above people MUST be enrolled in the AUHSP program and be cleared for working in an animal facility, prior to the initiation of work in the facility.

AUHSP Requirements

  1. Receive and read the AUHSP booklet.
  2. Complete Module 1 of the IACUC training.
  3. Complete a Risk Assessment Form.
  4. Engage in other training as required by Gannett, EH&S, CARE and the IACUC based on the personal and protocol risks established.
  5. Gannett requires an AUHSP Medical Evaluation for:
    1. All those working on protocols that have been deemed medium or high risk.
    2. Anyone named on a low risk protocol, with personal health information requiring further review as determined on the Risk Assessment Form.
  6. After review by Gannett of the individual’s personal risk and work environment, Gannett will determine what further medical preventative care or monitoring is required.
  7. Annually, complete the Risk Assessment Form.
  8. Annually, complete an AUHSP Medical Evaluation Form.

Every five years, complete Module 1 of the IACUC training program

AUHSP Initiation

All people currently named to protocols were sent an AUHSP pamphlet and a Risk Assessment Form in December 2003. They have already completed Module 1 of the IACUC training program.

Cornell employees having no direct contact with and no responsibilities related to animals, but who as part of their job duties work in animal housing facilities or animal procedure rooms (e.g. those working in laboratories/procedure rooms where others are using animals, custodial staff, building maintenance staff, Cornell shops personnel).

The individuals are identified by the Department Safety Representatives, and Principal Investigators. Follow-up will be done during IACUC inspections.

AUHSP Requirements

  1. Receive and read the AUHSP Booklet.
  2. Complete a Risk Assessment Form.
  3. Gannett may require an AUHSP Medical Evaluation for those with personal health information requiring further review.
  4. After review by Gannett of the individual’s personal risk and work environment, Gannett will determine what further medical preventative care or monitoring is required.
  5. Annually, complete the Risk assessment Form.
  6. Annually, complete the AUHSP Medical Evaluation Form.
  7. Gannett, EH&S and CARE, in consultation with an individual’s supervisor, will determine what safety procedures and equipment, including PPE, may be required.

AUHSP Initiation

In December, 2003, Cornell employees having no direct contact with and no responsibilities related to animals, but who as part of their job duties work in animal housing facilities or animal procedure rooms were sent an AUHSP pamphlet and a Risk Assessment Form and enrolled in the AUHSP.

There are some Cornell buildings with public corridors adjacent to animal housing or procedure rooms. In such buildings, we have reduced the risk of exposure of animals to the public using the corridors, through the use of negative pressurization of the animal holding rooms relative to the corridor and through the use of anterooms with appropriate pressurization. Additionally, SOP 547.01 Animals Transported and Used Outside Animal Facilities requires that rodents be transported in filter-top cages or closed transport cages, other animals in covered cages, and dirty caging covered, to reduce allergen contamination of public areas and to prevent spillage of bedding and feces.

IACUC Members

IACUC members may have direct or indirect contact with animals. Since the IACUC is an officially constituted body, the members are identified as a matter of record.

  1. If named to a protocol, individuals are subjected to the AUHSP requirements described in section II.
  2. IACUC members who are not covered by Section II and the non-affiliated members are,
    1. sent an AUHSP pamphlet;
    2. required to complete a Risk Assessment Form annually;
    3. required to complete Module 1 of the IACUC training program.
  3. Gannett may require a Medical Evaluation annually for those with personal health information requiring further review.
  4. Gannett, EH&S, and CARE will determine what safety procedures and equipment, including PPE, may be required.
  5. If access is approved, Gannett decides what further medical preventative care or monitoring is required.
  6. Gannett, EH&S and CARE determine what safety procedures and equipment, including PPE, is required.

Volunteers

Volunteers must be officially designated in accordance with Cornell University policy 6.5 University Volunteers (http://www.policy.cornell.edu/vol6_5.cfm). Volunteers are identified by the animal facility manager and may have direct or indirect contact with animals.

AUHSP Requirements

  1. Receive and read the AUHSP Booklet.
  2. Annually complete a Risk Assessment Form.
  3. Gannett may require an AUHSP Medical Evaluation for those with personal health information requiring further review.
  4. After review by Gannett of the individual’s personal risk and work environment, Gannett determines if the volunteer’s medical history puts them at increased risk when in the animal facility(ies). If so, access to the Cornell University animal facilities is denied.
  5. If access is approved, Gannett determines what further medical preventative care or monitoring is required.
  6. Gannett, EH&S and CARE, in consultation with an individual’s supervisor, determine what safety procedures and equipment, including PPE, is required.
  7. Complete Module 1 of the IACUC training.
  8. Engage in other training as required by Gannett, EH&S, CARE, the IACUC and the facility manager

AUHSP Initiation

In December, 2003, volunteers in animal holding facilities and animal procedure rooms were sent an AUHSP pamphlet and a Risk Assessment Form after which these individuals are subjected to the AUHSP Requirements described above.

Outside contractors working in animal holding facilities (e.g. construction, pest control contractors, etc.)

Outside contractors whose duties require access to animal holding facilities and animal procedure rooms have indirect contact with animals. These individuals are identified by the facility managers.

AUHSP Requirements

  1. Receive and read the AUHSP Booklet.
  2. Annually complete a Risk Assessment Form.
  3. Gannett may require an AUHSP Medical Evaluation Form for those with personal health information requiring further review.
  4. After review by Gannett of the individual’s personal risk and work environment, Gannett determines if the contractor’s medical history puts him/her at increased risk when in the animal facility(s). If so, access to the Cornell University animal facilities is denied.
  5. If access is approved, then facility-specific instructions are given by the Facility Manager prior to entry into the animal facility. Contractors are monitored by the animal facility manager, or designee, while they are in the animal facility.

Casual Visitors

All visits to animal facilities must comply with the Animal Facility Visitation section of Cornell University Policy 1.4 Care and Use of Animals in Research and Teaching. Casual visitors have indirect contact with animals. Casual visitors are identified by the facility manager.

AUHSP Requirements

  1. The animal facility manager, or designate, must meet with the visitors. Individuals will are advised to contact Gannett or their personal health care provider, prior to entering an animal facility, if they may have any medical conditions (immunocompromised, pregnant, allergies, etc.) that may increase their risk.
  2. Potential risks associated with access to each animal facility are provided in written form and through signage.
  3. Visitors are accompanied at all times while in the animal facility, by the animal facility manager or designee.

Deliveries to Animal Facilities

Personnel making deliveries to animal care and use facilities are generally not permitted into the facilities. These individuals will have no contact with animals.

AUHSP Requirements

  1. Deliveries to animal facilities should be left on the animal facility loading dock, or designated facility entrance, and transferred into the animal facility by animal care staff.
  2. When delivery personnel must enter the animal facility, then follow section VI 3 and 4.

Undergraduate students enrolled in classes that use vertebrate animals:

Students are provided with an introduction to the care and use of animals. This overview includes information on the IACUC, regulations governing animal care and use, mechanism to direct concerns on the care and use of animals, and occupational health and safety issues. The overview will be given in targeted courses to first year veterinary students and Animal Sciences students, and prior to using animals in the Arts & Sciences courses that involve animal use.

AHUSP Requirements

  1. Students are informed, as part of the course, on occupational health and safety issues. The occupational health and safety portion consists of information on the AUHSP, physical, chemical, and protocol related hazards, allergens, and zoonoses.
  2. Individuals will be advised to contact Gannett Occupational Medicine Office, prior to working with animals or entering an animal facility, if they may have any medical conditions (immunocompromised, pregnant, allergies, etc.) that may increase their risk.

Students that are members of the Equestrian Team and Polo Team, and those enrolled in physical education classes at the Oxley Equestrian Center

Students in this category sign a waiver form which includes, "Participants should contact Gannett Occupational Medicine Office, prior to working with the horses or entering the Equestrian Center, if they may have any medical conditions (immunocompromised, pregnant, allergies, etc.) that may increase their risk of adverse health effects from exposure to horses or the Equestrian Center."



AUHSP Main > Procedures