The UNH occupational health program for personnel who handle or work with live vertebrate animals is a joint responsibility of Health Services, Research Integrity Services (RIS), and the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS). 

Each UNH faculty or staff member, or student handling or working with live vertebrate animals at UNH must participate in the UNH Occupational Health Program for Animal Care Personnel.  Prior to handling or working with live vertebrate animals at UNH, applicable individuals need to:

• Complete (provide all requested information) a Medical History and Risk Assessment Questionnaire for Persons Handling or Working with Live Vertebrate Animals (available here in fillable PDF and Word versions). 
• Submit the completed form to UNH Health Services (via email as a PDF attachment to Sandra.Duvall@unh.edu, or hand-deliver in an envelope to Gladi Porsche, M.D., UNH Health Services, 12 Ballard Street, Durham, NH 03824);
• If applicable, respond promptly to communication from UNH Health Services staff regarding providing missing information and/or obtaining medical services (e.g., physical exam, tetanus immunization) necessary to receive occupational health program approval to handle and/or work with live vertebrate animals; and
• Wait for notification from RIS to the applicable project investigator/instructor or animal facility manager of approval prior to handling or working with live vertebrate animals.

Medical treatment for employees with illness and injury is provided by UNH Health Services and/or the employee’s primary care provider.  The occupational health program for includes the following:

1.   Medical/work history
2.   Physical examinations and immunizations (at the discretion of the attending physician)
3.   Reporting of illnesses or injuries
4.   Maintenance of individual health records
5.   Surveillance program for zoonotic diseases
6.   Monitoring of hazardous substances
7.   Employee Occupational Health Education Program, and
8.   Personal Health Regulations

The UNH Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee has developed guidelines for biological and personal safety when working with vertebrate animals at UNH.

Contact Dean Elder, Director, Animal Resources Office at 603-862-4629 or Julie Simpson, Director, Research Integrity Services at 603-862-2003 with questions about the occupational health program for animal care personnel.