The Vivarium Safety Officer in Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) collaborates with the Animal Care Program, Animal Welfare Program, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Institutional Animal Care and Use Program, principal investigators, and research staff to develop workplace safety programs that ensure:

• Safety training is provided for all researchers who have animal exposure. Anyone performing animal research at UCSD must take, at a minimum, the "Orientation to Animal Research" course. Other training may be required depending on job duties.
  • Consult Animal Welfare/ Animal Research Training for course schedules and registration information.

• Occupational health risk assessment is conducted for every individual working with or in close proximity to research animals, even if there is no exposure to animals. Based on questionnaire results, some individuals may be required to participate in medical surveillance.
  • Read Occupational Health Policy for Employees or Affiliates With Research Animal Exposure for program details and procedures.

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) reviews and approves all research projects that involve animal subjects before acquisition or work begins. Vivarium and research activities involving animals are guided by university policy, national guidelines, industry standards, and federal, state, and county regulations.

• Read the IACUC What You Need to Know page for animal use protocol application procedures.

If you are a UCSD affiliate and have questions, contact Deborah Durand, Vivarium Safety Officer, (858) 534-6715 or (858) 245-0670.