The Vivarium Safety Officer assists the Campus Biosafety Officer (BSO) in developing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive Safety Program designed to support and facilitate animal research while protecting people and the environment from the potential adverse effects of animal research involving use of biohazardous materials, hazardous chemicals, radioactive isotopes, etc.

As a member of the Institutional Animal Care Use Program (IACUC), the Vivarium Safety Officer attends IACUC meetings to review protocols, evaluates use of hazardous biological, chemical, and radioactive materials in animals, and ensures laboratories have approved authorizations for use of biological, chemical radioactive materials, and controlled substances in animals.

The Vivarium Safety Officer participates in the IACUC-EH&S inspection process for centralized animal facilities and laboratory animal use areas. Focus of inspections included hazard identification, signage consistency, personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance, engineering controls, cage wash exiting procedures, consistency of soiled bedding disposal, compliance with Animal Biosafety Level 2 & Animal Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL2 & ABSL3) facility policies and procedures, and other health & safety issues. As a subject matter expert, they will anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and recommend control measures for occupational health and safety risk factors that are associated with animal husbandry, facility cleaning, and maintenance activities.

Additionally, the Vivarium Safety Officer provides consultation, guidance, review, and training for use of biological toxins and chemicals in support of the IACUC protocol review and works closely with Biosafety Officer (BSO), Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), and Chemical Safety Officer (CSO). Work with research faculty, staff, EH&S program leaders, animal husbandry leadership to develop practices and procedures to facilitate safe animal research with hazardous materials. The Vivarium Safety Officer will also collaborate with vivarium leadership in identification and mitigation of physical hazards (i.e. ergonomics, noise, allergen exposure).

Perform root-cause analysis accident investigations on all injuries and illnesses originating in vivaria and make written recommendation to animal facility leadership, IACUC and IBC groups to prevent further injury or illness.