The University of Florida requires the Chemical Hygiene Program for all UF employees and affiliates (students, volunteers, contractors, etc.) who work with chemicals in laboratory settings, including animal research areas.
- It is the responsibility of the investigator to notify research personnel and ACS staff of any hazards and SOPs required to handle animals exposed to chemical hazards.
- Investigators are required to report the use of chemical hazards in animals in their IACUC protocol.
- During the protocol development/review phase, a risk assessment of each chemical hazard is conducted by the research staff, EH&S, IACUC, and the ACS veterinary staff.
- When working with chemicals, occupational health risks for both research and animal care staff arise from:
- Toxicity, half-life and metabolic byproducts of the compound
- Methods of preparation
- Concentration and method of administration
- Amount of material excreted
- Chemical Hazards: Follow the EH&S Guidelines for SOPs to create a Chemicals in Animals SOP using the manufacturer’s SDS and literature. This is used to complete your IACUC Protocol.
- Novel Compounds: the following information should be addressed within the IACUC Protocol and SOP:
- Description of the parent, or closely related compound(s).
- Current toxicity and pharmacokinetic data, if available.
- Nanoparticles: Additional considerations for nanoparticle use in animals must be taken into consideration, appropriate precautions should be outlined in your IACUC protocol. Review the EH&S Nanoparticle Safety Guidance for more information.