University of Wisconsin-Madison

Safety in the Animal Care and Use Setting

• UW-Madison has standing committees on several areas concerning health and safety in the research environment
  • Occupational Health Committee
    • oversees the UW-Madison campus Occupational Health Program
    • requires animal handlers to fill out a questionnaire detailing their animal exposures
    • questionnaire is available online at http://www.fpm.wisc.edu/safety/
    • contact person for Occupational Safety is the Occupational Health Specialist at 263-2177
    • website also has links for other information (i.e., human blood spill cleanup, what to do for bites and scratches from macaques, etc.)
• Biological Safety
  • assists all faculty and staff in observing safe biomedical laboratory practices
  • website is at http://www.fpm.wisc.edu/biosafety/
  • since UW-Madison receives NIH research funds, we are subject to the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules--the Office of Biological Safety (OBS) is responsible for providing oversight
  • all use of biohazardous material must be approved by this committee; approval from this committee AND the ACUC is required before using such material in animals
• Chemical and Environmental Safety
  • advises faculty, staff and students how to use chemicals safely
  • in laboratories, all chemical must be used according to a Chemical Hygiene Plan
  • in non-labs, all chemicals must be used according to a Hazard Communication and Protection Plan
  • copies of these Plans must be filed with the Safety Department
  • provides training, information and sample Plans for compliance with these OSHA requirements
  • provides disposal services for chemicals and animal carcasses
  • provides advice and troubleshooting for sharps and hazardous glass disposal
  • provides training and advice for safe and legal transport, shipping and receiving of chemicals
  • provides advice for prevention and response to chemical spills and accidents. Provides on-site consultation for cleanup of simple spills
  • a free copy of the UW Chemical Safety and Disposal Guide is available from Safety, and on the web
  • website is at http://www.fpm.wisc.edu/chemsafety/
• Radiation Safety
  • website is at http://www.fpm.wisc.edu/safety/Radiation/rad.htm
  • responsible for radiation safety training, provision of radioactive materials, radioactive waste handling, etc.
  • investigators are responsible for radionuclide use in their research animals, i.e., husbandry
  • all use of radioactive material must be approved by this committee; approval from this committee AND the ACUC is required before using such material in animals