With the start of a new academic year just around the corner, we ask that all members of the University of Michigan (U-M) research community review institutional policies, guidelines, and expectations for personnel involvement in animal activities – specifically those individuals classified as visitors, volunteers, students, and/or observers.
More information about personnel classifications can be found in the institutional policy documents summarized via the Policy Overview section below.
Key Responsibilities
Principal Investigators (PIs) are responsible for:
Ensuring that any individual working with animals under their advisement is:
- Appropriately trained,
- Apprised of the potential hazards and risks associated with animal care facilities, and
- Adhering to all applicable regulatory requirements, including policies under the purview of U-M’s Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC)
Providing direct supervision and oversight of all individuals who are not approved to handle animals and/or perform certain animal procedures.
Sharing the Quick Reference Sheet: A Guide for Students & Short-Term Personnel Working Around Animals with any observers and/or short-term personnel, including individuals in a classroom setting where any animal(s) covered under the PI’s IACUC approved protocol may be present.
This sheet contains important information about:
- Personnel requirements for working with animals,
- How to work safely in and around animal care facilities,
- How to report animal welfare concerns, and
- How to obtain veterinary care.
Any U-M faculty or staff member wishing to bring a visitor or volunteer (i.e., a non-U-M employee) into an active research facility, laboratory space, and/or animal care facility on any U-M campus – including Michigan Medicine – is responsible for:
Adhering to their department’s approval process for visitors/volunteers.
Submitting a written request at least two weeks in advance for visits to any area where animals may be present (including the vivarium or a laboratory space where procedures with animals may be conducted). Requests should be sent to [email protected] and include the following information:
- Reason for the visit,
- Planned visit location(s),
- Name of person(s) responsible for escorting the visitor(s), and
- Any special requests for support from the Animal Care & Use Program Team.
Accompanying the visitor/volunteer at all times and ensuring that individual(s):
- Obey safety and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements, including requirements for proper personal attire
- Read and adhere to instructions posted on signage throughout the animal care facility,
- Be mindful of important security considerations (e.g., no “tailgating” through doorways or propping doors open), and
- Do not handle any animals, perform any procedures with animals, or participate in any research activity using hazardous materials or equipment unless all requisite approval processes outlined by the Policy on the Classification and Expectations of Personnel Involved with Animal Activities and/or Visitors and Volunteers in Research Laboratories Policy have been completed and appropriately documented.
Generally speaking, ‘media’ is defined by the U-M Office of the Vice President for Communications (OVPC) as “any individual or group conducting interviews, making audio or video recordings, or capturing photographic images, for purposes of dissemination to the public via commercial or noncommercial news and information outlets, including the Internet.”
Guidelines for hosting members of the media:
- Michigan Medicine Facilities – visits to any Michigan Medicine facility must be approved by the appropriate entities in advance, and members of the media must be accompanied by a representative from the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication for the entirety of the visit.
- All other U-M Facilities – for university facilities not affiliated with Michigan Medicine, express permission from an administrative authority and/or officially designated university escort must be obtained for any media visit to a non-public area, including the private offices or research labs of faculty, staff, administrators, and student employees.
Please note that media visits that have not gone through the appropriate approval channels with sufficient notice to all required parties may be denied at any time.
Policy Overview
The above guidance is designed to provide a general overview of institutional expectations for hosting visitors, volunteers, and other observers in research facilities where animals may be present; it should not be considered exhaustive.
For more detailed information, please refer to the following resources:
IACUC Policy on the Classification and Expectations of Personnel Involved with Animal Activities –
provides the basic requirements for training, occupational health and safety, and limitations on animal handling based on an individual’s personnel classification level.
Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Visitors and Volunteers in Research Laboratories Policy –
pertains to all visitors (i.e., a non U-M employee) entering an active research facility and/or laboratory space on any U-M campus, including Michigan Medicine.
EHS Minors in Research and Academic Areas Policy –
outlines requirements for visits by minors (e.g., individuals under the age of 18 who are not enrolled as U-M students) to any campus facility.
U-M Office of the Vice President for Communications Media Guidelines –
provide general guidance for hosting members of the media in any campus (i.e., non-Michigan Medicine affiliated) facility.
Michigan Medicine Department of Communication News & Media Services
–
summarizes communications guidance and support services for all Michigan Medicine facilities, which may differ from those of central campus due to additional regulatory requirements, sensitivities to work being performed, and proximity to human patient clinical areas.
Michigan Medicine login credentials required.
Questions?
For Questions About…
Contact
Expectations for personnel involvement in animal activities
The Quality Assurance Team in the Animal Care & Use Office at [email protected]
Hosting visitors, volunteers, and/or other non U-M employees in areas where animals may be present
Email [email protected] at least two weeks in advance of any visit and provide the following:
- Reason for the visit,
- Planned visit location(s),
- Name of person(s) responsible for escorting the visitor(s), and
- Any special requests for support from the Animal Care & Use Program Team.
Visitors or volunteers in non-animal research areas and/or laboratory spaces
Contact EHS at [email protected].
Media requests and/or visits involving a Michigan Medicine facility
Contact the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication at (734) 764-2220 or [email protected].
Media requests and/or visits pertaining to a central campus school, college, or unit
Contact the respective communications office for your area or the U-M Office of Public Affairs at (734) 936-5190 or [email protected].
We appreciate that so many members of our community are proud to share their work with others. By safeguarding the people, places, and animals that help move scientific progress forward, we can ensure the continued integrity and success of the U-M research enterprise.