Procedures for Chemical Hazards Used in Laboratory Animals

This document is designed to provide the tools necessary to develop procedures for working with hazardous chemicals in animals at the University of Florida. Procedures for the commonly used chemicals in animals at UF have been developed and can be found in the section “Commonly Used Chemicals in Research Animals at the University of Florida”. The information from these data sheets can be incorporated into the SOP “Administration and Housing of Rodents Exposed to Hazardous Chemicals” and the IACUC protocol in sections 21.1 and 21.4.

For chemicals that are not listed, the SOP “Administration and Housing of Rodents Exposed to Hazardous Chemicals”can be written using the guidance provided in this document.

SOP for Administration and Housing of Rodents Exposed to Hazardous Chemicals

A copy of this SOP should be provided to the Animal Care Services (ACS) and ACS staff should be provided with information/training on the hazards associated with working with (fill in chemical name), required practices and procedures and proper handling of bedding, cages and all other husbandry materials (e.g., carcass disposal) associated with these experiments.

Notification and Signage:

  • Prior to the start of animal work with chemicals, the research personnel will meet with the ACS facility manager to discuss these outlined procedures and (if required) the “Special Care by PI” guideline.
  • When animals are dosed with (fill in chemical name), research personnel must clearly label the cages of the animals with a “Chemical Hazard” card indicating the agent, date introduced and date cleared, as well as additional handling/housing/PPE procedures. The initial card will be created by the ACS facility manager using the information provided in this SOP and the IACUC protocol. Each additional card must match this card completely.

Administrative Controls:

  • All personnel working with the chemical should be familiar with the SDS sheet and signs and symptoms of exposure. SDS sheets are attached at the end of this SOP.
  • Add additional administrative controls.

Engineering Controls:

  • The use of safety sharps is required.
  • For aerosol generating procedures or preparations of solutions, powders, granules must be performed in a list all approved hoods.
  • Aerosols may be produced during routine laboratory procedures (e.g., vortexing, mixing, pipetting).
  • Administration of fill in chemical nameto animals must be performed in a list hood type.
  • Cage changing procedures and animal handling after administration of fill in chemical nameto animals must be performed in a list hood type.
  • Add additional engineering controls needed.

Health Considerations

  • Potential routes of exposure to staff using fill in chemical name include fill in all potential routes of exposure.
  • Ex: ingestion, dermal, inhalation, mucous membranes, and auto-inoculation.
  • For each potential route, indicate how/when exposure might occur (ex: auto-inoculation during injection)
  • Fill in chemical name is classified as insert all health risk classifications (Ex: carcinogen, teratogen, etc.)
  • Special Medical Considerations: (Ex: Pregnant women or women who are breast-feeding should not handle this chemical or any potentially contaminated waste).

Personal Protective Equipment:

  • During administration of fill in chemical name via fill in administration route (IV, dermal, etc) the following PPE is required:
  • List all required PPE
  • Don’t forget to include types of gloves, splash protection, and respiratory protection if needed.
  • PPE for use in ACS facilities is outlined in section “Animal Care Services Rodent Housing procedures & Practices”.
  • PPE commonly required for use with chemicals is outlined in section “General Requirements for Personal Protective Equipment While Working with Chemical Hazards”.
  • During cage changing procedures and animal handling after administration of fill in chemical name the following PPE is required:
  • List all required PPE
  • Don’t forget to include types of gloves, splash protection, and respiratory protection if needed.
  • PPE for use in ACS facilities is outlined in section “Animal Care Services Rodent Housing procedures & Practices”.
  • PPE commonly required for use with chemicals is outlined in section “General Requirements for Personal Protective Equipment While Working with Chemical Hazards”.

Animal Housing:

  • After administration, animals will be returned to insert cage typeand location (static, pos/neg ventilated).
  • Transport of Cages: (delete if administration is occurring in the animal room).
  • Post inoculation, cages will be changed by ACS or research staff.
  • If research staff is performing the cage changes, a “Special Care by PI” sheet must be created by the ACS manager. Contact the ACS facility manager to get started.
  • Fill in chemical name is considered cleared from the animal insert amount of time to clear after inoculation.
  • The next cage change after the clear date will be handled using the procedures outlined in ACS SOP “Handling Animal Waste Exposed to Hazardous Chemicals”.
  • Once the chemical is considered cleared and the cage has been changed, all subsequent cage changes can be performed following standard ACS procedure.

Waste Disposal:

  • Carcasses, waste, bedding, and cages will/will not be handled as outlined in the ACS SOP “Handling Animal Waste Exposed to Hazardous Chemicals”.
  • Deviations from this SOP need to be outlined here.
  • ACS/Research staff will be responsible for disposing/processing of carcasses, waste, bedding, and cages.
  • If research staff is taking on this responsibility, procedures need to be outlined here.

Decontamination and Spill Response:

  • Following administration of fill in chemical name or cage changing procedures, wipe down work surface with insert approved disinfectant.
  • Small spills can be cleaned-up using the following procedure:
  • Powders:place wet paper towels over the spilled material to avoid aerosolization. Clean surface with % bleach solution (with ##-minute contact time) then follow soap and water.
  • Liquids: Mist with %bleach solution (with ##-minute contact time) and wipe up with absorbant paper. Follow with wipe down of soap and water.

Additional Resources:

References:

  1. OSHA Occupational Health Standards
  2. Preamble of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) "Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans" (2006).
  3. Genetic Alliance; District of Columbia Department of Health. Understanding Genetics: A District of Columbia Guide for Patients and Health Professionals. Washington (DC): Genetic Alliance; 2010 Feb 17. Appendix D, Teratogens/Prenatal Substance Abuse. Available from:
  4. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 5th Edition, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  5. Thomann, W.R., Chemical Safety in Animal Care, Use, and Research. ILAR Journal, 2003. 44(1): p. 13-19.

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