Training Requirements as they apply to new Research Personnel Using Animals

Orientation (Part 1 and Part 2), Handbook and the Occupational Health Requirement must be completed before a new participant is eligible to be added to a Principal Investigator's Animal Use Statement and begin hands-on animal work.

Review of the Handbook for the Use of Animals in Research and Education: The Handbook was compiled by the IACUC and contains information in all areas required by the Animal Welfare Act and PHS policy. Of particular importance to new participants are Chapters one through three. These cover KU-Lawrence animal care and use regulations and policies, a description of the training program, instructions for completing an Animal Use Statement, policies, regulations and standards for the care and use of laboratory animals, and information about Animal Care Unit facilities and services.

The Handbook can be accessed at the following website: ACU Handbook

Basic Orientation: The basic orientation requirement is composed of two parts.

Part 1 - Introductions to Animal Care Unit Staff / Tour of Animal Facility / Training Video / Lab Safety: Animal Care Unit personnel inform participants about Animal Care Unit policies and procedures, animal care and use regulations, occupational health and safety concerns and safe working practices. A tour of the main facility is given with special emphasis placed on the distinction between veterinary clinic areas (procedure rooms, x-ray, necropsy, etc.) and laboratory animal housing areas.New scientists are also required to view a videotape produced by the Laboratory Animal Training Association (LATA) which covers all areas of training required by the Animal Welfare Act and Health Research Extension Act. LATA Test

Lab Safety Information: Information addressing laboratory safety and hazard control measures is available on-line at the following Department of Environment, Health and Safety link: EHS Orientation for Animal Care. All orientation participants are required to review the laboratory safety information prior to taking the on-line test which includes questions about the material presented at this web address.

Part 2- Completion of the on-line LATA test: Instructions for completing the on-line test are provided to orientation participants via e-mail following completion of Part 1.

Orientation is not documented as complete until Part 1 and Part 2 have been completed.

Scheduling of orientation:

Historically, the Animal Care Unit has offered orientation presentations on a bi-monthly basis, once at the beginning of each semester and again mid to late semester.This continues in order to ensure compliance with the decision of the IACUC mandating completion of orientation prior to participation in the hands-on component of research, orientation is also offered on an as needed basis. Prior to scheduling a "special" orientation session, written justification must be provided by the Principal Investigator documenting the circumstances that necessitate the need for this. The University Veterinarian is charged with the responsibility of determining whether the justification is valid.

Occupational Health Requirement: New participants in research must complete a Health Assessment form and submit it to Watkins Health Center.The health center notifies the IACUC, via e-mail, when Health Assessment forms have been received. Blank forms are made available to new participants at the beginning of each orientation session.

Yearly, participants in the ACU Occupational Health program are required to submit periodic occupational health forms. These can be found in our Forms section.

ACU Occupational Health Forms

Hands-on Technical Training

The Technical Services training requirement can be met by either being trained or observed by a member of ACU Technical Services staff. At the point when a participant begins to work with live animals, contact is initiated with Jodi Troup, TTO/CVS, to discuss arrangements for either training or observation.

Depending upon the complexity of the technique, hands-on training may take one or several training sessions. Training continues until the technique is being performed satisfactorily, at which point the participant may perform it without supervision.

Training can be accomplished by having the ACU Technical Staff teach the procedure or technique.If the animal procedure is complex and there is a person who is skilled / trained at the procedure in the lab, this person may teach the participant the procedure under the observation of the ACU Technical Staff. If no one is available in the lab, arrangements can be made through the Animal Care Unit to coordinate training or observations with a person skilled/ trained from another lab.

Training by a lab colleague does NOT constitute completion of the Technical Training requirement. A participant must be able to satisfactorily perform the procedures themselves to be considered trained /observed. The person who did the training should also be present during the observation in case questions arise.

Persons who are found active with animals without meeting the Technical Services training requirement may jeopardize the continuance of the study with which they are involved. Animal Use statements can be suspended or terminated by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee if Technical Services training is not obtained in a timely fashion once the animal work has begun.