Labratry Animal Allergen Expsure Reductin Training Wayne State University, Office f Envirnmental Health & Safety Animal Cntact Occupatinal Health & Safety Prgram (AniCn) www.ehs.wayne.edu 313-577-1200 Animal Allergen Expsure Reductin Prgram Gals 1) Prevent WSU Animal Research Persnnel Frm; a) Develping animal allergy symptms b) Exacerbating animal allergy symptms c) Develping r exacerbating asthma r ther medical cnditins Hw Expsures Occur 1) Expsure t Animal Prteins By Way Of; a) Inhalatin f air brne animal allergens b) Animal bites and scratches c) Injuries frm sharps used n animals d) Skin cntact with animals, animals excretins, r animals waste e) Animal waste r excretins splashed int eyes, nse, r muth 2) Human Immune System Respnse; a) Expsure t animal prteins can trigger the human immune system t release histamines and Immunglbulin E (IgE) int bld the system. b) The release f histamines and IgE antibdies int bld system results in an inflammatry respnses in varius rgan tissues, such as, lungs, eyes, r skin. Individual Risk Factrs 1) Expsure t Animal Allergens; a) Frequency f expsure (e.g., number f hurs/day) b) Intensity f expsure (e.g., change animals' bedding, etc..) c) Cnditins (e.g., using an N95 mask, glves, etc ) d) Envirnmental Cnditins (e.g., animal rm ventilatin, etc ) e) Lifestyle (e.g., smking, etc )
2) Medical Histry & Genetic Cmpnent; a) Pre-existing persnal histry f allergies r respiratry disease b) Family histry f allergic cnditins Animal Allergens Cmmn Surces Mice (mst cmmn in research) Rats (mst cmmn in research) Rabbits Gerbils Guinea pigs Cats Dgs Birds Animal Allergy Symptms (symptms listed are nt exhaustive) Skin rash Eye Irritatin Thrat Irritatin Nasal Drainage Sneezing Cughing Chest Tightness Wheezing Difficulty Breathing Facial Swelling
Allergic Reactins Range: Mild Severe 1) Early Symptms: red irritated eyes, watery eyes, hives, rash, sneezing, runny nse, thrat irritatin, facial swelling. 2) Later Symptms: cughing, wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and shrtness f breath. Shrtness f breath can result in chrnic disease, e.g., Asthma. 3) Asthma Triggered by Allergic Reactins: can lead t asthmatic symptms that can result in a medical cnditin knwn as Status Asthmaticus: an acute exacerbatin f asthma. Status Asthmaticus can deterirate int anaphylactic shck. Anaphylaxis requires emergency treatment. 4) Onset f Allergy Symptms: can ccur after a few minutes f expsure r be delayed up t 8 hurs after expsure and can result in a severe systemic allergic reactin that will require emergency treatment. 5) Generally Allergies t Animals: develp within 3 years f expsure; hwever allergy symptms can develp much later than 3 years f expsure. The Mst Imprtant Element f Prtectin Are Engineering Cntrls 1) Heating, Ventilatin, & Air Cnditining Systems; a) Ventilatin: prper air exchange & air flw b) Temperature & Humidity: prper levels c) Animal Rm Air Flw: Negative pressure t crridrs 2) Emply Safety Equipment and Materials; a) Filter Tp Cages & Ventilated Cage Racks, Crncb Bedding b) HEPA Filtered Dumping Statins, Bi-safety Cabinets c) Hand-washing Sinks and Shwer Facilities d) Eye-wash Statins and Emergency Shwers e) Laundry Machines, cleaning equipment, and husekeeping supply
Administrative Cntrls - Fllw Safe Practice Guidelines 1) Adhere t Safety Standards Bi-safety Level Standard Operating Prcedures (SOP) Persnal Hygiene PPE Use & Dispsal Animal Allergy Surveillance Prgram 2) Avid Wrk Hazards Use Prper Technique when; restraining, transprting, r caring fr animals. Timely service micr-islatrs, Bi-bubbles, cages, and feeding systems. Adhere t wrk assignments and avid wrking alne when pssible. Persnal Prtective Equipment (PPE) Significantly Reduces Allergen Expsure N95 Mask*. *N95 Mask: A prperly fitted N95 respiratr (mask) filters ut at least 95% f airbrne particles, including sub-micrmeter particles. Glves (nitrile) Lab Cat, Scrubs (lng sleeves) Eye prtectin Hair Bnnets Prtective Sleeves She cvers
Medical Evaluatin & Treatment 1) One may visit OHS-4K clinic fr any medical cncern, e.g., New nset allergy symptms Wrsening allergy symptms Wrsening asthmatic symptms An initial N95 Mask fit test r an annual N95 Mask Fit Test Medical evaluatin f animal allergy symptms Bites, scratches, r any injury resulting frm handling animals 2) Ntify WSU Occupatinal Health Specialist 313-577-5917 re: medical referrals, questins, r cncerns Hw t Manage Acute Expsures 1) Animal Bite, Scratch, r Sharp Injury Apply pressure t bleed ut the wund, wash with sap and water fr 5 minutes, then cver with a bandage. 2) Splash t Eyes Irrigate the eye(s) fr 15 minutes at an eyewash statin r sink. 3) After Initial First Aid Treatment f Acute Injury Prmptly prceed t UHC- Occupatinal Health Services-4K clinic, Mnday - Friday, 6:30 am t 5:00 pm. After hurs, prceed t Detrit Receiving Hspital Emergency Department, 4201 St. Antine. Infrm yur Supervisr r PI, and the Occupatinal Health Specialist f injuries. 4) Emergency Transprtatin Call WSU Public Safety: 313-577-2222 T dcument this training, cmplete and submit the quiz at this link: Animal Allergy Expsure Reductin Quiz