ABSTRACT
Occupational safety and health considerations are primary concerns of animal care and use program management regardless of the size of the program or facility. In order to appropriately address the associated safety and health concerns, a concerted effort of hazard identification must be undertaken. A team approach can help personnel to fully understand the hazards that may be present, regulations and policies that may apply, support and training required, and institutional policies and liabilities that may impact the interventions or mitigation strategies selected and implemented. The responsibility for the overall design and execution of a program that protects the safety, health, and welfare of all personnel rests in the hands of a team of key individuals. The creation of a safe working environment starts with the physical features of the facility and equipment used in the work environment. In addition to engineering controls for controlling hazards in the animal facility, administrative controls are another effective technique for hazard control.
