Animal Contact Program

North Carolina State University’s Animal Contact Program is for the protection and education of individuals who have contact with animals. Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) oversees the Animal Contact Program in partnership with Occupational Medicine and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for animal contact exposure. NCSU’s Occupational Medicine is the medical provider for the program and maintains all medical records (for employees only). 

The Animal Contact medical monitoring must be renewed at least every three (3) years or when there are changes in:

  • work assignment (i.e., change in animal species, contact levels, etc.)
  • employee’s health status (development of a chronic illness or condition, immune suppression, pregnancy, development of animal or environmental allergies, etc.). 
  • other hazards and work processes

To enroll or renew participation in the program, the applicant’s supervisor must complete the Animal Contact Questionnaire.
NOTE:  System Access Request (SAR) approval is required for all new users. Please contact your department’s admin to request SAR access if not already been granted.

For step-by-step instructions on how to complete the form, please click here. Supervisors may also use the OHHA portal to enroll employees in the respiratory protection and hearing conservation programs.

Animal Contact Program Requirement

Program requirements are based upon those outlined in the Public Health Services Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and recommendations of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC). 

Prevent Animal-Related Injuries and Illness

To identify the risks associated with the animals you plan to work with, see the following link – https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/zoonoses/

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Workers and supervisors with animal contact are subject ethical, practice, and care standards governed by federal and local laws, regulations and standards. Contact IACUC to ensure compliance with the university’s rigorous program of animal care and use.

Questions? 

  • If you have any questions on the animal contact questionnaire, please contact the Environmental Health and Safety at env-health-occ-health@ncsu.edu or call 919-513-0988.
  • For questions about the Worker Medical Questionnaire, please contact Occupational Medicine at (919) 513-0277.