Employees Who Work in the Area Where Laboratory Animals Are Kept
Workstations in the laboratory animal house
(Cages and aquariums) / Form 3.1
met / n/a
yes / *no
Risk assessment pursuant to § 5 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Arbeitsschutzgesetz) and
§ 7 Biological Substances Ordinance
Workstations in the laboratory animal house
(Cages and aquariums) / Form 3.1
Seq. no.:
Office:
Group / Author / DateFirst assessment / Yes No Last assessment on (date)
Number of employees
Employees who work in the area where laboratory animals are kept:
The following laboratory animals are handled:
1. General / met / n/ayes / *no
1. There is a permit for the keeping of animals in accordance with §11 the German Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG).
2. The area where laboratory animals are kept is separate from other areas.
3. The rooms where animals are can be locked.
4. Access is regulated, only authorised personnel are granted access, and this is indicated by signs.
5. Animals are kept in such a way as to ensure they do not escape.
6. It is easy to identify the animals and the studies with which they are associated.
7. All employees who work in the area where laboratory animals are kept are familiar with the origin, species and behaviour of the laboratory animals.
8. Official veterinary examinations are conducted regularly.
9. Steps have been taken to ensure that only trained personnel have access to the animals. Employees are regularly trained in the species-specific and injury-free keeping and handling of animals.
10. Employees are trained in the kinds of hazards associated with the handling of animals such as bites, scratches, pouncing, envenomation, and are trained in how to avoid these.
11. Steps have been take to ensure that when handling venomous or especially dangerous animals (e.g., snakes), staff members do not work alone.
12. Employees are familiar with which first-aid measures must be undertaken in the event of an injury caused by animals or as a result of handling animals.
13. The person responsible is notified immediately in the event of an injury caused by animals.
14. Regular occupational-medical healthcare takes place.
15. The recommended and provided protective and booster vaccinations are accepted and regularly performed.
16. Spatial and technical measures have been taken to effectively prevent the escape of the animals, as well as intrusion by outside animals and vectors.
17. Cage bedding and animal feed are stored in such a way that the development of dust, the penetration of moisture, decomposition processes and the unwanted migration of foreign organisms are prevented.
18. Suitable vehicles or equipment are available and are used when transporting heavy containers (e.g., for bedding, animal feed), aquariums and equipment.
19. Please fill out Item 4.8 in Form 2.0 if there are risks associated with lifting and transporting loads.
20. The area where laboratory animals are kept has an emergency power supply.
21. The area where laboratory animals are kept ventilated according to the occupancy density and animal species.
22. The area where laboratory animals are kept is easy to clean and disinfect.
23. Laboratory doors open in the escape direction and have a viewing window.
24. The floor is non-slip, even on wet workstations, e.g., in rooms with aquariums or aquatic animals.
25. Accidents are reported immediately to the Occupational Health and Safety and Sustainability staff unit and regulatory authorities.
2. Handling of animals and general work practices
1. Suitable safety equipment for preventing injury when handling, transferring or treating the animals is made available to and is used by employees.
2. Listed in Item 6 is the safety equipment (e.g., leather gloves, coarse plastic aprons, rubber boots, full protective quarantine suits, etc.) needed especially in this area.
3. Special, additionally required safety measures, e.g., moveable walls, shielding of the cage closing mechanism, remote-controlled feed supply, etc. are listed in Item 7.
4. The safety equipment worn by employees prevents the transmission of diseases from animals to humans (zoonosis, zooanthroponosis) and hazards posed by biological agents.
5. Employee’s safety equipment is suited to preventing toxic effects and allergies to animal dander, animal bedding and animal proteins and is worn.
6. Steps have been taken to ensure that there are drugs or medications on hand to sedate the animals.
7. Latex-free safety equipment and latex-free handling equipment is made available to employees who have a latex allergy.
8. The government of Upper Bavaria has been notified that genetically modified animals are being kept, the relevant approval decision has been issued and the requirements and subsidiary regulations of the decision as well as the legal requirements of the German Genetic Engineering Act (GenTG) and the Genetic Technology Safety Regulations (GenTSV) are being met.
9. Genetically modified animals belonging to risk group 1 are kept in rooms having
safety level 1.
10. Genetically modified animals belonging to risk group 2 are kept in rooms having safety level 2.
11. The pathogens of diseased or infected animals are known and classified according to a risk group.
12. Diagnostics are only performed on diseased animals. There is no increase in the detected pathogens.
13. Pathogens are selectively propagated or used.
14. Work using pathogens is performed under the authority of a permit holder in accordance with §44 of the Federal Law on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases in Humans (IfSG) and §2 the Animal Pathogen Ordinance (TierSEV), and the statutory provisions of the Federal Law on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases in Humans (IfSG), the Animal Pathogen Ordinance (TierSEV) and the German Biological Substances Ordinance (BioStoffV) are observed.
15. The handling was reported to the regulatory authorities and the requirements and subsidiary regulations of the decisions are being observed.
16. Employees are instructed on safe handling of cannulas, syringes, scalpels, scissors, saws and glass pipette tips and abide by the rules.
17. Transparent containers for disposing of cannulas/scalpels/glass pipettes are available and used. Once the fill level marking is reached, the lid is locked closed without pressure and the entire container disposed of.
18. The risk-free preparation of animal feed is explained in the training sessions and instruction manuals, if applicable.
19. The water in the aquariums is changed using suction.
20. Water is not siphoned using the mouth.
21. When suctioning the water, it is ensured that no genetically modified organisms capable of propagation, infected, diseased or hazardous animals enter the sewage system.
22. Measures are taken to prevent glass breaking during the cleaning, transport or transferring of aquariums.
23. Please fill out Form 2.0, Item 4 when handling centrifuges, equipment with rotating parts, compressed gas cylinders, pressurised containers.
3. Personal hygiene
1. There is a current hygiene plan which is known to all employees and can be viewed at any time and is observed.
2. If necessary, hands are disinfected, washed and treated with an appropriate hand cream after handling animals and animal materials, after contamination by biological agents and upon concluding activities in the area where laboratory animals are kept.
3. Suitable skin protection and skin care agents are available.
4. There are dressing rooms with separate storage facility for street clothing and protective clothing for the area where laboratory animals are kept.
5. Washrooms with full-body showers are available to employees.
6. A suitable common room with daylight is available to the employees working in the area where laboratory animals are kept.
7. Hand washing and hand sanitiser dispensers are only fitted with original dispenser bottles.
4. Medications and hazardous substances
1. When handling antibiotics, cytostatics, narcotics or anaesthetics, the appropriate Items in Form 2.1, Hazardous Substances, are filled out.
(Form 2.1 Antibiotics, Item 3.1, Item 3.2 , Cytostatics, Item 3.2.1 , Anaesthetic gases, Item 5 , Narcotics, Item 8 ).
2. Drugs and narcotics are stored in a locked cabinet and are only used by qualified personnel.
3. Narcotics are only used under the authority of a permit holder in accordance with §3 of the Federal Narcotics Act (Betäubungsmittelgesetz).
4. Regular training sessions also include training in accordance with the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances (GefStoffV).
5. Disposal and cleaning
1. Animal waste, cage bedding and animal cadavers are properly disposed of.
2. The risk potential of the detergent and concentrated disinfectant used is known to all.
3. The instruction manuals for handling of detergents and disinfectants are current, can be viewed at any time and are observed.
4. When handling corrosive or irritant concentrates protective eyewear or face protection and suitable protective gloves are worn.
5. Preparations comprising concentrations that are corrosive or irritants are produced in the fume cupboard or with adequate ventilation.
6. When using larger quantities, (e.g., for surface disinfection), sufficient ventilation is provided.
7. All employees are aware that the washing system may only be opened upon completion of the program and after cooling (risk of scalding).
8. The instruction manual for the cage washing system is current, is known to all, can be viewed at any time and is observed. The manual also contains the service number for malfunctions.
9. Cages from an RG2 area are autoclaved or disinfected using recognised procedures prior to cleaning.
10. An autoclave with exhaust air filtration is located in the area where laboratory animals are kept.
11. Please fill out Form 2.0, Item 4.4 with reference to autoclaves.
12. The development of dust at the discard station for cage bedding is prevented by technical means (e.g., local extraction, a worktable with downward suction).
LMU Munich
* If no, list alternative measures under Item 7. / Version: July 2009, 1/5
Risk assessment pursuant to § 5 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (ArbSchutzG) and §7 of the Biological Substances Ordinance (BioStoffV)
Workstations in the laboratory animal house
(Cages and aquariums) / Form 3.1
6. Other risks and corresponding safety measures
Risk / Safety measures
7. Additional measures and corrective measures
Re. Item / Description / Measures / Implementation (date)
Should you need any advice, please contact your designated specialist for occupational health and safety in the Occupational Health and Safety and Sustainability staff unit.
LMU MunichVersion: July 2009, 1/5