Occupational Health & Safety
Program
Purpose: To
maintain a preventive health program for personnel involved in the care and
handling of animals: to insure that an accurate assessment is made of the health
status of each staff member at the time of hire, to ensure that staff are
safeguarded against occupation-related disorders, and to ensure that emerging
occupation-related health disorders are promptly diagnosed and corrected. Responsibility:
DLAM Administration Procedure:
DLAM has arranged for an Occupational Health Program ( OHP) for all persons at
risk of illness or injury as a result of working with animals or their wastes. This includes anyone whose
job responsibilities bring them in contact with animals used in teaching and/or research.
Investigators using animals are expected to assess the potential hazards of
their proposed studies and recommend participation in the OHP to any employee
determined to be at risk of illness or injury. This could include the
scientific staff, student workers, and facility support personnel. The program is conducted by the Louisiana State University Student Health
Center. Participation in Parts 1 and 2 of this program is voluntary and
confidential. Participation of Part 3 of this program is mandatory. The
Program consists of the following: 1.
New Employees Each
participating new employee will complete a health questionnaire and present it
the Student Health Center physician at the time of the physical examination. Each
new employee will receive a complete physical examination. Based
on review of the health questionnaire and the physical examination, the Student
Health Center physician will request appropriate diagnostic tests and/or
immunizations. The Student
Health Center will establish and maintain a medical record for each employee,
and will include in that record, a copy of the health questionnaire. The
Student Health Center physician will notify DLAM in writing of any precautions
needed in the work assignments of each employee, based on findings from the
health questionnaire, physical examination, or diagnostic tests. DLAM will
notify the Principal Investigator responsible for the employee. All
information received from the Student Health Service will be considered
confidential and will be secured in the individual employee's personnel file. 2.
Continuing Employees On
a yearly basis, each participating employee will complete a health questionnaire
and will mail it, in the envelope provided, to the LSU Student Health Center. The
Student Health Center physician will review the health questionnaire and will
determine which, if any, diagnostic tests, vaccinations, etc., are needed.
The Student Health Center will notify the employee that such actions are needed. The
employee will schedule an appointment with the Student Health Center for the
recommended procedures. The
Student Heath Center will perform needed procedures and the physician will
notify DLAM in writing of any changes or precautions needed in the work
assignments of each employee: based on findings from the health
questionnaire, physical examination, or diagnostic tests. 3.
All Employees Any
medical condition, including injuries, sustained while on the job will be
reported to the employee's direct supervisor. The supervisor will
determine whether the employee should report to the student health center for
evaluation and treatment. Severe injuries may be referred to other nearby
hospitals.
For further information regarding
this Occupational Health Program, please contact: Mr. Rick Ramsey,
Assistant Director of DLAM. |
