The university’s Animal Handler Occupational Health & Safety Program, co-administered by the Animal Care & Use Program and the Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Department, not only protects personnel by ensuring safe research operations, it also plays a critical role in the U-M’s continued compliance with the federal Public Health Service Policy and accreditation by AAALAC International.
With an eye toward our next AAALAC Site Visit in Summer 2026, we are sharing an important update on how Medical Surveillance Questionnaires (MSQs) – the tool used to assess and manage the occupational health risks associated with animal handling – will be processed.
Effective December 7, 2025, all MSQs will be completed in U-M’s Enterprise Health (EH) Portal instead of the eRAM protocol management system.
This transition is expected to provide many benefits, including:
- Increased data security
- The ability to store information from previously completed MSQs, which should simplify the renewal process (where required) and provide a more accurate personal medical history for occupational health assessment(s)
- An enhanced user interface that includes a Message Center, list of Action Items, and Occupational Health Services (OHS) Clinic appointment scheduling
These changes do NOT require Study Teams to take any immediate action on their protocol(s). Individuals who are due to complete an MSQ with OHS should expect to receive an email from [email protected] approximately one month (30 days) before their requirements are due.
Consistent with existing practices, all individuals who are listed as an animal handler on an active animal use protocol are required to review their health information at least annually. Individuals will now complete one of two assessments (i.e., Action Items) in the EH Portal based on their assigned job duties:
- A short survey to identify any changes to –
- Medical status
- Level of animal contact (e.g., increase in animal handling activities)
- Species handling
- The work environment that may impact occupational health
- A new MSQ, which is generally required for individuals whose work has been categorized as high-risk by either EHS or OHS
Prompt review and completion of all activities outlined in the Employee Action Items section of the email are strongly encouraged to avoid potential delays in protocol processing. Please note that additional activities** – including a scheduled visit with OHS – may be assigned based on an individual’s animal contact or health status.
**Annual fit testing conducted as part of the U-M’s Respiratory Protection Program will continue to be administered by EHS.
Both the employee and their direct supervisor, as assigned by Human Resources, will receive an email from the EH Portal once proper clearance has been granted by OHS. This message will include important information about the individual’s clearance date and next assigned MSQ date. eRAM will also be updated automatically within 24 hours to reflect MSQ completion.
Where to Learn More
Enterprise Health is available to all U-M employees at enterprise-health.umich.edu. Once on the site, select “U-M Uniqname Login” and then use your UMICH password and two-factor authentication to log in.
Visit the Medical Surveillance page on the OHS website for a brief video tutorial on how to complete an MSQ in the EH Portal. More information is also provided on the eRAM Release Notes webpage.
For additional questions or concerns, please speak with your direct supervisor and/or Principal Investigator. General questions may also be sent to OHS at [email protected].