Princeton University is dedicated to using animals that are healthy and of the highest quality as research subjects. The University is also committed to providing a safe working environment for all personnel, including those handling research animals. Accordingly, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) has established a policy that ALL faculty, staff, and students who come in contact with research animals complete the requirements for entry into the Occupational Health and Safety Program.

If you have assumed animal-handling responsibilities, you must do the following:

Complete the web-based training Health and Safety for Animal Workers
Call Employee Health for an appointment at 258-5035 to complete the medical review process.

1. Complete Section A of the ANIMAL WORKER PERSONNEL INFORMATION FORM and the Health History Form. Take these forms with you to your appointment with Employee Health at McCosh Health Center.

2. After your appointment, return the signed Personnel Information form to the Manager of Laboratory Animal Resources in Psychology, or Molecular Biology, or Mary Guimond in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology as appropriate. This will complete your enrollment in the Occupational Health and Safety Program as required.

3. All animal workers are encouraged to visit Employee Health annually after the mandatory initial visit. Annual appointments are required for all animal caretakers and all personnel who handle non-human primates. If you become injured, feel you are developing an allergy, are planning a pregnancy, or develop any health concerns related to your research animal exposure, contact Employee Health for medical review and consultation.

Report all injuries immediately to your supervisor and have recorded all bites and scratches in the “Bite/Scratch” logbook located in each animal care facility. Contact Employee Health (8-5035) or Student Health (8-3141) for wounds needing medical attention. Contact the Manager of Laboratory Animal Resources (8-9193) for follow-up animal testing or care, as appropriate.