Animal Handler Safety

Policy and Procedures

OSU is committed to providing a safe and healthful workplace for persons who handle animals as part of their job responsibilities or coursework. To achieve these goals, the OSU Administration has created and approved a Policy and Procedures for animal handlers that includes hazard awareness training and medical monitoring.

OSU Animal Exposure Policy (pdf)

OSU Animal Exposure Procedures (pdf)

Main Hazards of Animal Work

1. Zoonoses – diseases resulting from infectious agents of animals that can be transmitted to and cause infection in humans
2. Allergies – hypersensitivities caused by protein allergens released from animal fur, feathers or secretions
3. Physical injuries – caused by bites, scratches, kicks or other actions of animals during handling
4. Sharps injuries – breaks in the skin due to needles, scalpels or other sharp instruments
5. Experimental hazards – biological, radiological or chemical agents administered to animals for purposes of studying a disease process

Animal Handler Training (classroom and video options)

Animal Handler Safety Training is required for persons who will work with animals or have significant contact with animals. Hazard awareness topics covered include zoonotic diseases, animal allergies, research hazards, physical injuries and sharps hazards. Other topics are methods to minimize personal risks of injury or disease when working with animals and medical monitoring. Session length is 1¼ hours. A risk assessment questionnaire is distributed and persons who are at risk for rabies exposure will be asked to remain for an additional 15 minutes to cover rabies awareness training. See the Safety Training Calendar for the class schedule and registration information.

Animal Handler Safety Video

Animal Handler Medical Surveillance

Go to the SHS Occupational Health Services Animal Handler page for forms and information on medical surveillance requirements for animal handlers.

Rabies: Those individuals whose job activities or instructional training may place them at risk of exposure to rabies, there is a university Human Rabies Prevention Program, which consists of awareness training, emergency response procedures, and pre-exposure vaccination.  For some workers, periodic testing is also required.