This section of the WSU Animal Contact Program is designed to inform employees of the occupational health and safety concerns associated with working with animals or being exposed to animal waste, unfixed tissues, dander, bodily fluids, etc. Also contained in this section are guidelines to follow in order to protect your safety and health while working with animals. Working with almost any type of animal exposes a person to hair, dander, saliva, urine, and other bodily fluids. One of the most common occupational disease associated with animal contact are allergies. Working with animals can expose a person to physical hazards such as back injuries due to heavy lifting, kicks, falls, animal bites, scratches, etc.
Physical injuries can occur through accidents in any workplace.
Supervisors and principal investigators should make certain that workers are adequately trained and equipped to deal with the species in question. Everyone should be familiar with the WSU Accident Prevention Policy . One of the requirements of the WSU Animal Contact Program is for persons to have been immunized for Tetanus with in the past 10 years. This is based upon the recommendation of the US Department of Health and Human Services and the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. If you need to get vaccinated for tetanus, you can accept participation in the Medical Health and Risk Assessment element of the WSU Animal Contact Program and the immunization will be provided to you at no cost.