Responsibilities: Department Chairperson/Head Facility Administrators
- Be aware of animal care and use requirements, and assure that policies and procedures (herein) are implemented.
- Assure safeguards and safe procedures are maintained in the work place for all employees. Assure that occupational health and personal hygiene standards as outlined in this manual are adhered to by faculty, staff, and students.
- Assure that animal research is appropriately reviewed and approved, before initiating work. Remind new faculty an Application to Use Animals Form must be completed as part of grant proposals, and is approved by the IACUC before research projects or academic use of animals is started.
- Assure that faculty, staff, and students have access to this document.
- Assure that support staff clearly understand and follow the procedures and expectations for animal care and well being, and discuss any questions or concerns with the principal investigator. Department administrators may call upon/alert the IACUC or seek their guidance in addressing unique needs and/or appropriate training..
- An indication of support from the Department Chair/Head can make the duties of the IACUC much easier.
It is the responsibility of each department to hire qualified personnel as animal caretakers. Excellent candidates have come from graduates of AVMA accredited Veterinary Technology Programs, Agricultural Production Programs, or AALAS certification programs. Continuing education is required for all personnel working with animals within UNL animal research facilities. It is the responsibility of the IACUC to establish a training program. When training is provided by the P.I., it must be documented to be credited to individuals receiving said trainng.
Upon assignment to an animal care unit, departments are responsible for notifying the IACP of the employees' names and starting date. The supervisors of new employees, including part-time students, graduate students, technicians or others working with animals, are required to contact the IACP office to arrange training sessions appropriate to their assignment.
Employees working with animals in animal rooms, livestock or wildlife in the field, must not leave the premises wearing the same outer clothing they wore to care for the animals. In compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency laws: "Investigator must ensure that all anesthetic and tranquilizing drugs which are listed in schedule I-V of the Controlled Substance Act are kept under double lock within a cabinet".
Usage of certain scheduled drugs must always be written in a log book by the investigator." (REFERENCE: Controlled Substance Act of 1970; Public Law 91-513; Revised Jan 1979).
