ABSTRACT
The use of animals for research purposes has always been directly or indirectly linked to human health concerns. Animal allergens, zoonotic diseases, and physical injuries are only some of the issues that need to be addressed in a general occupational health program associated with animal research. Although regulations and guidelines dealing with human health and protection are a valuable resource for establishing a comprehensive occupational health program, their scope and level of detail will always be limited. Fortunately, most current health and safety regulations are performance oriented, focusing on the goal (i.e., a safe work environment) rather than describing how to get there. This allows institutions to tailor their safety programs to protect employees in the most effective way.
