By Gian Joseph, Safety Advisor
EHS provides training and resources to help students, researchers, and animal care staff work safely with animals. Risks are addressed, including physical injuries (bites and scratches), health hazards (allergies or zoonotic diseases), and chemical exposures. EHS emphasizes the importance of proper training and procedures to minimize these risks, while highlighting that allergies are the most common hazard among animal care workers, potentially leading to serious conditions like occupational asthma. Collaborating with the Research Animal Resource Center (RARC), EHS offers training on safe work practices involving animals. Please check out more of our resources linked below.
The EHS Safety Program Manual is a collection of safety requirements and resources, covering chemical, biological, radiation and fire safety, spill planning and response, pollution prevention and waste disposal, hazardous materials transportation, and general safety.
Laboratory personnel must attend the laboratory safety training course upon starting work, and the online refresher must be completed annually. Additional training in all aspects of animal use and care is provided by RARC. (Intranet Only)
Exposure and Accident Reporting
Reporting Bites and Scratches: Rodent bites and scratches must be reported and treated following RARC’s procedures. (Intranet Only)
WCM Faculty and Staff: Workforce Health and Safety provides health assessments and post-incident/exposure medical assessments for employees. Workforce Health and Safety is open between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on business days, and is located in the Payson House basement at 1315 York Avenue.
WCM Students: Student Health Services provides annual health assessments and post-exposure medical assessments for students. Student Health Services is open between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on business days. Report immediately to Student Health Services, located at 230 E 69th Street. More Information
Emergency Medical Assistance for WCM Students, Faculty, and Staff: For more severe exposures/injuries, or injuries occurring during nights, weekends, or holidays, report immediately to either:
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Emergency Room: walk-in entrance is located at 68th Street and York Avenue. Map
- NYP Emergency Medical Services: call (212) 472-2222 to have emergency medical assistance sent to your location. Follow up with Workforce Health and Safety or Student Health Services on the next business day.