USING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN ANIMAL STUDIES

The following letter and guidelines are sent to each investigator with an approved animal use protocol that includes use of hazardous substances in animals.  Specific information about the hazards and procedures are provided by submitting Appendices A.1. and A.2 of the protocol form.

May 11, 1995

To: Faculty Using Hazardous Substances
in Animal Studies

From: Robert L. Harris, D.V.M.
Director of Laboratory Animal Services

Subject: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
for Use of Hazardous Substances

The attached SOP outlines procedures to be used when you use hazardous substances in conjunction with the approved animal use protocol. The primary purpose of this SOP is to assure that all persons involved in this project, and those who may be affected by it, understand the proper procedures to be followed to assure a safe workplace.

Please read the SOP carefully. It is expected that you will follow the procedures outlined here, unless the SOP is changed and a revision is issued. Laboratory Animal Services supervisory personnel have a copy of this SOP and these are the procedures they expect you to follow. It is not a big deal to make changes; it is a problem if others are not aware of them.

I recognize that in some instances the level of risk is very small. Many investigators work with hazardous substances in very small quantities. Concern amongst employees may be based on industrial use of large amounts of these substances. We have attempted to place the risk in perspective. On the other hand, animal studies make containment of hazards difficult. Also, in addition to the hazard to humans and the environment, we want to avoid substances used in one study from being a confounding variable of another study in the animal facility.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN USING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN ANIMAL STUDIES

INFORMATION PROVIDED ON
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE QUESTIONNAIRE

  1. The PI with animal protocol approval is designated as the responsible individual.
  2. Provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet (HSFS). (For chemical hazards. Not required for isotopes and biohazards)
  3. Train all personnel in accordance with the requirements of the Chemical Hygiene Program (every lab must have a written Chemical Hygiene Plan).
  4. Provide written spill clean-up procedures.

ADDITIONAL APPROVALS REQUIRED

LAS and the ACFC are concerned with the use of hazardous substances in animal studies as they affect people, animals, the animal facility environment and equipment, and disposal of animals, bedding and supplies. REHS shares these concerns, but has a broader responsibility for safety anywhere on campus, including PI labs.

Certain hazards may require further review and approval, beyond that of an approved animal use protocol.

  1. Biohazards (including transgenic animals and recombinant DNA must be approved by the Biosafety Committee.
  2. Use of isotopes in animals that generates "hot" carcasses, must be reviewed in advance by the Radiation Safety Committee. This is in addition to the requirement to have a user license for isotope work.

ANIMAL FACILITY PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES

  1. Notify Laboratory Animal Services (LAS) each time a project is to start so that appropriate procedures can be planned. Information to provide includes Protocol Number, species, hazard, start date, and end date.
  2. Any hazardous substance brought into an animal facility should be clearly labeled with the name and CAS#. There are no exceptions to this rule, even if you have a "research lab" waiver for your lab under the "Right to Know" law.
  3. For animals treated with hazards, label all animal cages with the chemical name and CAS# of the hazardous substance.
  4. Hazardous substances should only be kept in animal facilities as long as necessary to dose animals. After each use, hazards should be removed immediately and returned to the PI’s lab.
  5. During the actual dosing of animals with hazardous substances, the room should be secured and only essential personnel should be present. Working through the LAS supervisor, dosing activities should be coordinated so that animal care personnel or research personnel sharing the animal room can plan their scheduled activities around the dosing period.
  6. When dosing animals in animal facilities, work areas should be cleaned up and decontaminated (if required) immediately after animal dosing is completed. A copy of the "Spill Clean-Up Procedure" must be available in the room when the hazard is present.
  7. LAS personnel will service cages housing animals treated with hazards. The time period during which animals, cages and bedding need to be treated as hazardous materials will be determined prior to study initiation, in consultation with the PI, LAS and REHS.