Animal Contact Program Requires
Renewal Risk Assessments

The University of Florida changed its Animal Contact Program February 2006 to include renewal risk assessments every three years.

Originally, this Program began with an initial health assessment only unless there was a change in animal contact or participant's health status.  Current accreditation requirements of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) triggered the change to include periodic reviews. 

Each participant is assigned an anniversary date based on the initial review date.  Environmental Health and Safety's Occupational Medicine Office sends notices to participants with a deadline for completion of the renewals one month from the notice date.  As with the initial health assessments, the forms are presented to the Student Health Care Center (SHCC) at the Infirmary for review.  The Renewal Risk Assessment for Animal Contact form can be found at www.ehs.ufl.edu/Bio/Files/ACRenew.pdf.

• If immunizations are up to date, participants may fax completed forms to the SHCC at 392-5078.
• If immunizations are out of date, participants may go to the SHCC.
  • The SHCC at the Infirmary’s (Fletcher Drive) immunization walk-in hours are
    Monday 1-3 p.m. and Tuesday 8-11 a.m. .
  • SH@Shands (D2-49 Health Center Dental Tower) offers TB tests and tetanus immunizations.
    Call  392-0627 to confirm walk-in hours.
• Appointments are available at the SHCC at the Infirmary to complete the review in one visit.
  Please call 392-1161 x 4212 to schedule that visit.

Health assessments are based on the individual's animal exposure and take into consideration the person's current health status.  The Program covers faculty, staff, students, volunteers and visitors who work with or in proximity to vertebrate animals. Individuals who handle certain animal wastes or tissues, including blood and body fluids are also included in the program.

Periodic renewals are required of all individuals covered in the Animal Contact Program.  The review status is reported to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) on a weekly basis as well as to the individual's supervisor.  Approval to work with animals at the University of Florida depends on a cleared and current Risk Assessment for Animal Contact. 

More information:            
                                        http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/Bio/Animal/acweb.htm
                                        http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/occmed/
                                        http://www.aaalac.org/

Occupational Medicine Program, Environmental Health and Safety, University of Florida (352) 392-1591