Wash Your Hands

The most common way to contract a zoonotic infection is to place the infectious material directly in your own mouth. Always wash your hands after handling an animal or anything that the animal has touched. Never smoke, drink, or eat in the animal room or before washing your hands.

Wear Protective Clothing

Wear protective clothing when working with animals. For some workers, protective clothing will consist of a lab coat; for others it may be a dedicated set of work clothing. Protective clothing must be laundered either at the research facility or by a commercial laundry service. Never take protective clothing home with you. Protective clothing insures that you won't bring potentially contaminated material home with you.

Use Personal Protective Devices

Some types of work require personal protective devices such as gloves, face shields, masks, respirators, etc. Always use the protective devices where required, and follow your supervisor's instructions scrupulously.

Seek Medical Attention Promptly

If you are injured on the job, you must promptly report the accident to your supervisor, even if it seems relatively minor. You will then report to employee health services for evaluation of the injury.

Tell Your Physician You Work with Animals

Whenever you're ill, even if you're not certain that the illness is work related, always mention to your physician that you work with animals. Many zoonotic diseases have flu-like symptoms, and your physician needs this information to make an accurate diagnosis.

Get the Facts

All at-risk persons working in a facility should receive appropriate training on that facility's particular biohazards, precautions, and biohazard evaluation procedures. If there is something you don't understand, ask your supervisor. Contact the University Veterinarian to discuss zoonotic diseases or other occupational health issues.

The Supervisor's Role

The supervisor is responsible for teaching the workers what they need to know to perform their job safely and effectively.

Laboratory workers and animal care personnel should know how to recognize hazard warning signs, how to protect themselves and their coworkers against each recognized hazard, and how to react properly in the event of emergencies.

Training should be appropriate for the employee's education, experience, and language skills. Training sessions should be documented. Everyone in the workplace should be aware of their own safe work practices and those of others. Safety is everyone's business.

Reprinted from: UC Davis Environmental Health and Safety Animal Use and Care Program, Occupational Health and Animals; Downloaded October 12, 2004 from http://ehs.ucdavis.edu/animal/health/StayingHealthy.cfm

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