Development of an Occupational Risk Assessment Tool for Laboratory Animal Facilities

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Laboratory Animal Science
• Risk Management

Background:

• Laboratory animal facilities are crucial for research and require high standards of animal care and welfare.
• Ensuring a safe work environment for all staff (veterinary, animal care, research, maintenance) is paramount.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an occupational risk assessment tool tailored for laboratory animal facilities.
• To capture work dynamics, calculate and prioritize risks, and inform mitigation strategies.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel occupational risk assessment tool.
• Application of the tool to assess risks in various facility tasks and procedures.
• Demonstration of utility through a sharps use risk assessment in nonhuman primate care.

Main Results:

• The tool effectively captures work dynamics and prioritizes identified risks.
• A specific risk assessment demonstrated improved occupational safety in nonhuman primate husbandry.
• The framework supports a holistic risk management system.

Conclusions:

• The developed tool and framework establish a comprehensive occupational risk management system.
• This system ensures continuous improvement in facility operations through risk identification, evaluation, and mitigation.
• Effective communication and consultation with all stakeholders are integral to the system's success.