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Training and Education Program for Faulty, Staff, and Students

General

In 1985, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the "Public Health Service Policy (PHS) on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals by Awardee Institutions." Soon after came the revised "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals." In 1986, the PHS Office for Protection from Research Risks (OPRR) sent revisions of the PHS Policy to institutions who use research animals. These changes were mandated to conform with the "Health Research Extension Act of 1985." A significant change included in the revised policy is an "...explanation of the training or instruction available to scientists, animal technicians, and other personnel involved in animal care, treatment, and use."

The most detailed provision for training of research staff in animal care and/or experimental procedures was included in the 1985 text of the "Improved Standards for Laboratory Animals Act"(Public Law 99-198), which amended the Animal Welfare Act. Subsequent proposed rules and regulations were published in the Federal Register in March, 1987 as promulgated by the Act and were finalized on August 31, 1989. These regulations state that:

(a) "It shall be the responsibility of the research facility to ensure that all scientists, research technicians, animal technicians, and other personnel involved in animal care, treatment, and use are qualified to perform their duties. This responsibility shall be fulfilled in parts through the provision of training and instruction to those personnel."

(b) "Training and instruction shall be made available, and the qualifications of personnel reviewed, with sufficient frequency to fulfill the research facility's responsibilities under this section and section...2.31 [Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee]."

Purpose

The purpose of UT Memphis training and education program is to ensure humane animal care and use by complying with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and American Association for the Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) animal welfare regulations/ guidelines and institutional needs. This is accomplished by providing training and continuing education programs for UT scientists, animal technicians, and other personnel involved with animal care, use, and treatment.

Objectives

The University of Tennessee Memphis' training and education program objectives are derived from the instructional areas listed in the rules and regulations that were published in the Federal Register (Vol. 54, No. 168) on Aug. 31, 1989 which amended the USDA Animal Welfare Act. These regulations state that "...Training and instruction of personnel must include guidance in at least the following areas:
  1. Humane methods of animal maintenance and experimentation, including:

    2. The basic needs for each species of animal. Proper handling and care for the species of animals used by the facility. Proper pre-procedural and post-procedural care of animals. Aseptic surgical methods and procedures.
     
  2. The concept, availability, and use of research or testing methods that limit the use of animals or minimize animal distress;

    3.  
  3. Proper use of anesthetics, analgesics, and tranquilizers for any species of animals used by the facility;

    4.  
  4. Methods whereby deficiencies in animal care and treatment are reported by any employee of the facility. No facility employee, Committee member, or laboratory personnel shall be discriminated against or be subject to any reprisal for reporting violations of any regulation or standards under the Act;

    5.  
  5. Utilization of services [e.g., National Agricultural Library, National Library of Medicine] available to provide information:
  • On appropriate methods of animal care and use;
  • On alternatives to the use of live animals in research;
  • That could prevent unintended and unnecessary duplication of research involving animals; and Regarding the intent and requirements of the Act."

DCM/IACUC Available Training

Contact training coordinator at 448-5656 for more information.
  1. The USDA and the PHS mandate that all personnel involved in the care or use of laboratory animals have appropriate experience and/or training. Compliance with this requirement is obtained via investigator certification and approval by the IACUC (requirements appended). Seminars and information are provided by DCM personnel to assist in fulfilling training requirements.


    2. The Lab Animal Care and Use Handbook is the primary format the University and IACUC utilizes for self-instructional training.

    Several other options are listed below.
     

  2. Animal care staff training sessions in preparation for the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) certification are conducted periodically on an "as needed" basis.
    3. AALAS is a professional, nonprofit association of persons and institutions concerned with the production, care, and study of laboratory animals. The organization provides a medium for the exchange of scientific information on all phases of laboratory animal care and use through its education activities and certification program. This program certifies three levels of technical competence: Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT), Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT), and Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG).
    In some cases, research technicians may be eligible to participate in this certification program.
  3. Research staff: Information on research surgical technician certification by the Academy of Surgical Research is available in the DCM office. Research technicians participating in projects involving surgical research are encouraged to pursue this certification. Hands on workshops on specific issues are available upon request or when deemed necessary by the veterinary staff.

    4.  
  4. A 2-credit graduate course titled "Essentials of Animal Experimentation" is offered annually by the DCM, usually in the fall semester. Graduate students and technicians are eligible to take this course, which presents an overview of the use of animals in biomedical research. Lectures are complemented by laboratory sessions that enable students to obtain "hands-on" training in basic procedures involving laboratory animals. The department also teaches an advanced graduate course in the Biology and Pathophysiology of Laboratory animals over two spring semesters.

    5.  
  5. DCM library: These materials are available for use in the DCM library by all university employees and students. Materials can be removed only with specific permission, but photocopying is available. A partial list of holdings is appended.

    6.  
  6. DCM Newsletter: DCM publishes a quarterly newsletter which is available to all staff in University, It serves as a modality to provide specific information as to techniques, and other pertinent information.

Training in and Use of Hazardous Material

All investigators and their technicians that work with radioisotopes must be certified by the radiation safety office before they can purchase isotopes. This involves taking a course or showing documentation of having had similar training. This is a campus wide program for training and certification to use hazardous agents. (See IIA6 and IIE2 for facility specifics and agents). All DCM supervisory and management personnel are trained to use a Geiger counter and are instructed by the radiation safety officer, for certain specific studies, to check the cages and bedding for radiation. The OSHA Blood borne pathogens regulations are being enforced through an Exposure Control Plan. All investigators using hazardous agents pertinent to this regulation are covered under their respective colleges exposure control plan. All persons are certified and undergo training as to their use of blood borne pathogens of human origin utilized in clinical or animal studies. The DCM has its own exposure control plan. Projects approved by the IACUC utilizing biohazard agents alert DCM personnel to need for specific requirements under the DCM plan. The institutional responsibility for compliance and training is under Mr. Hugh Teaford, Institutional Safety Officer (Safety Officer) who is an observer on the IACUC. For each project involving a hazardous agent, the DCM staff is given specific instructions, verbally and in writing, as to the safety precautions that must be taken when working with any hazardous agents.

The "Animal Research Protocol" form includes a full section requesting information necessary to assess the degree of hazard and to determine the safety precautions that will be required. If isotopes are involved, radiation safety must approve their use before the protocol is approved by the IACUC. The IACUC functions as the primary "alert" committee for animal studies involving microbial or chemical hazards. (As noted in previous section the campus Safety Officer and Occupational Health practitioner are observers on committee). A campus safety committee works closely with DCM and IACUC providing guidance in studies involving the use of hazardous agents (blood borne pathogens) in animals. The responsibility for monitoring the use of hazardous agents in animals has become the responsibility of the IACUC and the DCM staff, except for isotope studies, which are monitored by radiation safety. The university has a full crisis management plan and exposure control plan to integrate vital needs of hazards, safety, animal activist activities, catastrophic aspects, etc. The use of hazardous agents is dynamic and continually reviewed by all of the above committees including University Health Service personnel.

Occupational Health and Safety Program

  1. Program:Personnel/Responsibility: Personnel Included - The DCM specialized program includes all technicians, supervisors and veterinarians. Participation by DCM office personnel is voluntary. The University Occupational Health program also includes research staff outside the DCM dependent on project/protocol needs and as required by OSHA, blood borne pathogens regulations. The university health services cross indexes medical records of all personnel to their use of animals. As a minimum all personnel entering university employment must have a tuberculin test, Blood samples are collected and stored from all DCM non-office employees. Principal person involved in university oversight is Mr. Pat Jenkins, Instructor, primary care.


    2. Futher Information:

  2. Description of Program and Education/Training
    • Records and Monitoring:

      • The University Occupational Health Service provides medical care and maintains health records alerting employees of scheduled TB tests, blood draws, and pertinent immunizations. Work related injuries and supervisor reviews are also maintained by this office. Campus Occupational health with DCM Coordinator's guidance, oversees the personnel health program for DCM employees. A quarterly update list of all technicians and investigators using animals is provided to University Health Services (Rpt. R056) by name and SSN by the Medical Research Protocol Coordinator. The occupational health practitioner has direct access by computer for immediate knowledge of any person currently listed by animal protocol as well as access to protocol information in IACUC Oracle system.
       
    • Employment screens:

      • Initial employment and annual physical examinations are provided. Examinations include taking and maintaining a complete medical history, a physical examination, CBC and differential, SMAC, and urinalysis. Reference sera is also collected at the time of the initial employment physical on DCM personnel and stored by the University Health. Additional reference sera are collected and stored every five years. Tuberculin tests are administered annually and immunizations, including tetanus, rubella and rabies are administered as indicated. A full written DCM operating guide is in place under the responsibility of Business coordinator and, University Health Service, UT Memphis. The program for all blood borne pathogen exposure and compliance, DCM program, and investigator/technician animal contact is coordinated by University Health and the Safety Office.
       
    • Education:

      • Training seminars in use of Biohazards, material data sheets and emerging problems (eg. Herpes "B"), are taught in conjunction with biosafety office and university health and DCM.
  3. Personnel Exposed to Hazards:

    4. Personnel are instructed in the importance of personal hygiene in reducing the potential for spread of zoonotic diseases as well as the spread of diseases between animals. Personnel working with or around hazardous agents are given special instructions regarding the necessary safety procedures pertinent to any project. Specific seminars have been initiated to cover special disease aspects e.g. Herpes Simiae ("B" virus), Blood borne pathogens exposure control plan, and similar programs. An "Alert" notice is placed on any animal ID card at order to alert DCM supervisors attention to place call to investigator to assure an agent is appropriately identified and classified.
     
  4. Protective Equipment/Clothing Provided:

    5. Personnel working with and around hazardous agents or in hazardous situations including cage wash areas, are provided with and are required to use appropriate safety equipment and/or clothing. This may include ear plugs, surgical type masks, respirators, rubber aprons, coveralls, protective gloves, shoe and head covers, etc. Recent regulations from OSHA on Blood Borne Pathogens has increased the awareness of all personnel utilizing agents classified as a biohazard. These regulations have prompted a exposure control plan. The University also has programs in place for radiation safety and chemical toxins.
Further Information:
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