About Vivarium Safety
Learn about UC San Diego's Vivarium Safety Program for work with research animals.
Purpose
UC San Diego's Vivarium Safety Program protects employees and affiliates from occupational risks associated with research animals.
Vivarium and research activities involving animals are guided by university policy, national guidelines, industry standards, and federal, state, and county regulations.
The Vivarium Safety Officer develops work safety programs in collaboration with:
- Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine (COEM)
- Environment, Health & Safety
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
- Institutional Biosafety Committee
- Principal investigators and research staff
- UC San Diego Animal Care Program
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
IACUC reviews and approves all research projects that involve animal subjects before acquisition or work can begin.
- See the UC San Diego Animal Care Program home page for instructions.
Training requirement
Anyone performing animal research at UC San Diego must take the "Orientation to Animal Research at UC San Diego" course presented by Animal Care Program Technical Training Services.
- See UC San Diego Animal Care Program for information.
Other safety training may be required depending on job duties.
Occupational Health & Safety Program (OHSP) requirements
Employees and affiliates working with or near research animals at UC San Diego are subject to OHSP requirements.
An occupational health risk assessment is required 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.
- See Occupational Health & Safety Program for Individuals With Research Animal Exposure for program details and procedures.