Institutional Responsibilities for the Oversight of Personnel Safety in Animal Research

Abstract

Research programs utilizing animal models present a wide variety of risks to personnel safety. These risks stem from a range of hazards including well-recognized physical, chemical, or infectious hazards to novel or less-well defined hazards associated with new and emerging technologies. Institutions must provide appropriate oversight of occupational health and safety programs to help prevent and recognize personnel injury or illness. In this article, we review institutional responsibilities pertaining to animal research safety programs including their regulatory basis and practices necessary for their effective oversight.