Occupational Health Surveillance Program

All Faculty, laboratory and/or technical staff, students, and UNC Charlotte employees with animal exposure as defined in the table below are subject to the Occupational Health Surveillance Policy. Initial enrollment is achieved by completing and submitting the Initial Health History Form.

All individuals working with live vertebrate animals in teaching or research must receive clearance from the Occupational Health Professional BEFORE commencing work with animals/animal tissues or accessing the Vivarium. The following steps will ensure enrollment and ongoing compliance with the OHSP:

STEP 1: Electronically complete the appropriate form in DocuSign.

Initial Health History Form: For first time enrollees in the Occupational Health Surveillance Program. This is a comprehensive health history review.

Annual Health Update Form: Personnel associated with the Animal Care and Use Program are required to update their health information at least annually using the Annual Health Update form. This process is initiated and coordinated through the Office of Research Protections and Integrity / IACUC Office. Correspondence detailing the time period for submission of annual updates will be sent to all active occupational health program enrollees. 

Interim Health Status Change Form: This form should be submitted when an enrollee needs to report:

• Any changes in health status which could affect sensitivity to environmental exposure to animals and/or animal tissues (i.e. medical condition/drug regimen lowering immune status) or
• An increase/decrease in the amount of time spent working directly with or exposed to animals

STEP 2: Sign the form in all areas indicated.

STEP 3: Click “Finish” to submit your form to the Occupational Health Professional. Your health information will not be shared but will be stored on file in DocuSign and with the Occupational Health Provider. 

PRIVACY NOTICE: The DocuSign forms use UNC Charlotte Level III data encryption security and direct routing to Atrium Health. If you do not consent to the transmission of your health history information in this manner, or if you have any concerns regarding the steps taken to safeguard your information, do not fill out the form and contact the Office of Research Protections & Integrity / IACUC Office as soon as possible at 704-687-1872 or uncc-iacuc@charlotte.edu.

Based on the responses provided on your health form, the Occupational Health Professional will evaluate the physical risks, work processes and hazardous materials related to the work and the working environment. For new enrollees in the OHSP, the Occupational Health Professional will determine whether to grant medical clearance to access animal use areas of the University or work in the field on an IACUC approved protocol.

Physical examinations are required for those who fall in the “High Risk” category, or as directed by the Occupational Health Professional as a condition for medical clearance to work in the Vivarium or other campus spaces where animal use/exposure occurs.

Health surveillance will also include provisions for any required immunizations (e.g., Tetanus prophylaxis, pre-exposure Rabies prophylaxis, etc.). Exposure to hazardous materials such as carcinogens, highly toxic chemicals or other items which could create health concerns may necessitate additional surveillance requirements.

Following their evaluation, the Occupational Health Professional will communicate the results via a Medical Clearance Form to be routed to the following individuals: the enrollee; the Principal Investigator/Supervisor managing the enrollee’s animal work; the Vivarium manager / AV; and the IACUC Coordinator.

PRIVACY NOTICE: The Medical Clearance Form form returned to UNC Charlotte will never include specific health-related information about the enrollee. Enrollees’ protected health information will not be disclosed. However, the clearance form may include recommendations for immunizations, use of a respirator, and/or extra personal protective equipment, and the date of most recent tetanus and/or rabies immunization(s). Both the Occupational Health Professionals and the specific UNC Charlotte units/employees identified above are legally bound to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.

Research and non-research animals have the potential to cause injury, transmit zoonotic diseases, and/or cause allergic reactions in personnel with direct (hands-on) or indirect (e.g., visiting the animal housing facility, handling tissues, etc.) animal contact.

Persons with these exposures should be trained to understand routes of disease transmission and the signs and symptoms of diseases and allergies. For an overview of risks, personnel may refer to this summary of health risks and exposure routes organized by animal type.

Training should also include information on appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), safe waste handling, and what to do/who to contact in case of an emergency.

On a semiannual basis coinciding with the beginning of each semester, the Institutional Official sends a zoonoses notice to all investigators working with live vertebrate animals to share with laboratory personnel about the potential zoonotic health hazards associated with working with these animals. Staff should sign an acknowledgement form and keep it on file with the PI or in the lab.

For detailed information regarding allergy concerns and zoonoses, refer to: 

1. Policy: Occupational Health Surveillance for Personnel with animal Exposure and/or Entering the Vivarium
2. CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
3. Policy: Visitors to the Vivarium
4. Policy: Vivarium Injury Treatment and Reporting (Bites, Exposures, and Other Injuries)
5. Vivarium SOP: Doffing and Donning in ABSL-2
6. Asthma and Allergy in Animal Handlers Handout