The UNH occupational health program for personnel who handle or work with live vertebrate animals is a joint responsibility of UNH Health & Wellness, Research Integrity Services (RIS), and the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS).
Each UNH faculty or staff member, or student handling or working with live vertebrate animals at UNH must participate in the UNH Occupational Health Program for Animal Care Personnel. Prior to handling or working with live vertebrate animals at UNH, applicable individuals need to:
- Complete (provide ALL requested information) a Medical History and Risk Assessment Questionnaire for Persons Handling or Working with Live Vertebrate Animals. Questionnaires missing information will be returned to the individual. Note: Applicants need to have had a tetanus shot within the last 10 years and a physical within the last 5 years.
- Submit the completed form to UNH Health & Wellness by uploading the document here. If there are problems uploading the document, hand-deliver in an envelope or mail the completed questionnaire to: Attn: Animal Handler Medical Questionnaire, UNH Health & Wellness 4 Pettee Brook Lane, Durham, NH 03824.
- If applicable, respond promptly to communication from UNH Health & Wellness staff regarding providing missing information and/or obtaining medical services (e.g., physical exam, tetanus immunization) necessary to receive occupational health program approval to handle and/or work with live vertebrate animals; and
- Wait for notification from RIS to the applicable project investigator/instructor or animal facility manager of approval prior to handling or working with live vertebrate animals.
Medical treatment for employees with illness and injury is provided by UNH Health & Wellness and/or the employee’s primary care provider. The occupational health program for animal handlers includes the following:
- Medical/work history
- Physical examinations and immunizations (at the discretion of the attending physician)
- Reporting of illnesses or injuries
- Maintenance of individual health records
- Surveillance program for zoonotic diseases
- Monitoring of hazardous substances
- Employee Occupational Health Education Program, and
- Personal Health Regulations
The UNH Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee has developed guidelines for biological and personal safety when working with vertebrate animals at UNH.
Contact Dean Elder, Director, Animal Resources Office at (603) 862-4629, Julie Simpson, Director, Research Integrity Services at (603) 862-2003, or Susan Jalbert, Compliance Officer, Research Integrity Services with questions about the occupational health program for animal care personnel.
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Dean Elder, MS, DVM, Director
Animal Resources Office
Rudman Hall
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-4629
Email: dean.elder@unh.edu
Julie Simpson, Director
Research Integrity Services
Service Building Room 107
51 College Road
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-2003
Email: julie.simpson@unh.edu
Susan Jalbert, Compliance Officer
Research Integrity Services
Service Building Room 107
51 College Road
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-3536
Email: susan.jalbert@unh.edu
