Use of Hazardous Materials
All use of animals, including those projects that involve the use of hazardous (chemical, radiological and biohazardous) agents must be approved by the Administrative Panel on Laboratory Animal Care (APLAC).
The office of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) has developed guidelines for the use of hazardous chemicals (known or suspect carcinogens, reproductive hazards/teratogens, cytotoxic/anti-neoplastic agents, or mutagens) in animals use protocols. A copy of these guidelines, Minimizing Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Animal Protocols, can be found on the Chemical Safety section of the EH&S web site.
Hazards at Biosafety Level (BL) 2 or 3 must also be approved by the Administrative Panel on Biosafety. No projects involving Class 4 or Class 5 agents can be conducted at Stanford. Specialized housing areas for maintenance of animals used on biohazardous studies are available in Research Animal Facility (RAF) - I.
Projects involving the use of radioactive hazards must be approved by the Administrative Panel on Radiological Hazards. Prior to the initiation of any animal studies involving radioactive materials, a "Notice of Radioactive Animals to be Placed in Lab-Animal Medicine Facilities" form must be completed, authorized by Health Physics and VSC, and be on file in the VSC office. Whenever radioactive materials or animals are brought into VSC facilities, written documentation of type of radioisotope, location of animals/materials, species of animal involved, and investigator's name must be made in the Radiation Log Book located in the VSC office in RAF - I (AF067). The Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) and Verterinary Service Center (VSC) monitor these facilities.
Personnel who use hazardous agents in animal research must have previous experience with the agent or obtain appropriate training. All personnel working with radioactive materials are required to wear radiation detection badges. EH&S is available to assist in the training of faculty, staff, and students in the use of hazardous agents (e.g., radioisotopes, biohazardous agents). EH&S publishes and disseminates a variety of instructional materials including the Stanford Safety Manual, Biosafety Manual, and the Radiology Handbook. For copies of these documents, contact EH&S (650-723-0448).
If you have questions pertaining to health and safety at Stanford, contact EH&S (650-723-0448). The Biosafety Officer (EH&S) can be reached at 650-725-1473.
