The occupational health and safety program at the Central Animal Facility of Mahidol University aims to identify and control hazards through a risk assessment process. It identifies several biological, chemical, physical, and environmental hazards. The program provides policies and procedures to control hazards, such as proper use of personal protective equipment, safe handling of needles and sharps, chemical management, and emergency response. Medical surveillance programs are also in place to monitor health risks and injuries among personnel working in the animal facility.

1. Occupational Health and Safety
Program (OHSP)
Central Animal Facility, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University (MUSC–
CAF)

3. MUSC–IACUC Policy #17-03 Education
and Training

4. Principal elements of OHSP
• Exposure control – Knowing hazards by risk assessment
• Risk assessment is a cornerstone of an effective OHSP
• Goal is to put in place measures to lower the risk at work in
MUSC–CAF
Assessment
1. Identify hazards
2. Assess hazards
Action
3. Develop controls and make decisions
4. Implement controls
5. Supervise and evaluate

5. What are the risks?
Environmental Allergens Zoonotic
Biological Chemical

6. What are the environmental hazards?
Bites and
scratches
Slips and
falls
Lifting
injuries
Noise
Steam
and heat
Ventilatio
n
Radiation
Cleaning
agents
Sharps
Repetitive
stress

7. • Do not bend, clip, recap or remove
needles from syringes before disposal
• Promptly discard need all needle-and-
syringe units in sharp containers
• Do not overfill sharp containers
• If recapping is necessary, use the one-
handed method
MUSC–CAF
policy for
needle
disposal

8. Radiation
• We have small
animal imaging
facility for rodents
located at room 308
• Follow the
instruction
• Only trained
personal are allowed
to enter
• Sign in and out to
monitor exposure
time

9. Ergonomics
1. Maintain neutral
posture
2. Work in power
zone
3. Adequate lighting
4. Reduce excessive force
and motion
5. Allow for movement and
stretching
6. Seek help if needed

10. Chemical
hazards

11. Policy at MUSC–CAF for chemical use
• Label all bottles with chemical
name and date
• Must accompanied with MSDS
• Wear proper PPE
• Inform us if you bring any new
chemical into our facility, so we
can provide all materials listed
above

12. Carcinogen
• Designated room is 311
• Must accompanied with
MSDS
• Wear proper PPE
• Restrict the use in biological
safety cabinet
• Are you pregnant or
planning to get pregnant?

13. Potential allergens at MUSC–CAF
Common sources
• Rat/mice: urine and
saliva
• Rabbit: fur, saliva,
urine
• Bedding materials
(new and used)
• Sanitation/laundry
supplies

14. Allergic rhinitis – symptoms and
co-morbidities

15. Preventive measures for zoonosis at
MUSC–CAF
Possible sources
• Laboratory animals—
we implement the
quarantine program to
monitor all animals
received.
• Pest—we have pest
control program to
monitor unwanted
species at our facility.
• We would like to know
your immunization
background for

16. Methods of controlling hazards
1. Physically
remove the
hazards
2. Replace the
hazards
3. Isolate users
from the
hazards
4. Change the
ways people
work
5. Properly wear

17. Hand washing
Proper hand
washing
technique can
• Eliminate
spreading of
germs in and
out MUSC–
CAF
• Prevent and
alleviate
allergic
symptoms

18. Gloves: wearing and
removal
• We provide gloves at
change rooms
• Proper technique of
the wearing and
removal can reduce
chemical and allergen
exposures.
• Wearing gloves
together with clean
gowns, hairnet and
shoes is mandatory in
the vivarium.
• Let us know about

19. First aid kit
• General information
• Located on each floor
• Sterile dressing and plasters
• Bandages
• Protective items
• Basic medications
• Please report the usage
and if you find that the
contents are used up, let us
know!
• Do not forget to fill in the
incident report

20. Emergency response
On hearing the fire
alarm sounds…
• Remain calm
• Stop working
• Recall the exits and
leave the building
• Do not take risk
• Do not use the
elevators
MUSC annual training is
provided.
Pay attention to the
location of these signs
once inside the facility

21. • Assess baseline health status—help
identify those with special health needs
• Monitor health-related risks for all
personal working at MUSC–CAF
• Provide appropriate assistance when work-
related illness or injuries occur
Occupational
health record

22. Occupational Risk Assessment and Medical
Questionnaire
Three categories of
personnel who enter
MUSC–CAF
1. Employee and
IACUC members
2. Animal users and
regular
contractors
3. One-time visitor
and contractors

23. Incident Report and Monitoring Form for
Work-related Injuries
What to report?
1. Bites and
scratches
2. Sharp or needle
injuries
3. Splash injuries
4. Fall or lifting
injuries
5. Other physical
injuries even a
near miss
We encourage
everyone to report
for a better