Research Services Office
Research and Innovation Division (RaID)
ANIMAL HANDLING POLICY
Date approved:
June / July
2008
Date Policy
will take effect:
On approval
Date of Next
Review:
Approved by:
Animal Ethics Committee
University Ethics Policy Committee
Custodian title & email address:
Animal Ethics Officer
[email protected]
Author:
Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) and Animal Ethics Officer
Responsible Faculty/
Division & Unit:
Ethics Officer, Research Services Office,
Research and Innovation Division (RaID)
Supporting
documents,
procedures & forms of
this policy:
University documentation relating to this policy includes:
November
2012

AEC Operating Procedures

Animal House Operating Procedures

AEC Standard Operating Procedures (Animal
Handling)

AEC Certificate of Competency

Unexpected Death Report Form

Annual Review Report Form
References &
Legislation:
NHMRC Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for
Scientific Purposes (7th Edition 2004)
Animal Research Act 1985 (NSW)
Animal Research Regulation 2010 (NSW)
Audience:
Internet – public access
Expiry Date of Policy
(if applicable):
Not applicable
Contents
1
Purpose of Policy
2
2
Definitions
2
3
Application & Scope - Exclusions or Special Conditions (if any)
2
4
Policy Principles (if relevant)
2
5
Roles & Responsibilities
3
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Animal Handling Policy 2012 Jan
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Version Control and Change History
Purpose of Policy
1.
2
The purpose of this policy is to:
a.
Ensure that injuries to and mortality rates of animals due to poor animal handling
techniques are kept to an absolute minimum
b.
Ensure that Standard Operating Procedures for animal handling are developed,
approved and made available to researchers
c.
Ensure that all researchers performing procedures in the Animal Holding Facilities
are trained and competent in the handling of animals used in research.
d.
Ensure that if researchers are not yet competent that they are supervised by
someone who is experienced.
Definitions
Word/Term
Definition (with examples if required)
AEC
Animal Ethics Committee
PI
Principal Investigator
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
3
Application & Scope - Exclusions or Special Conditions (if any)
1.
4
3
This policy applies to all UOW researchers using animals in their research, whether on or off
campus. The NHMRC Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for
Scientific Purposes (7th Edition 2004) should also be taken into account.
Policy Principles (if relevant)
1.
The AEC is committed to ensuring that all research conducted at the University of Wollongong
is fully compliant with the following legislation:

NHMRC Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for
Scientific Purposes (7th Edition 2004)

Animal Research Act 1985

NSW Animal Research Regulation 2005.
2.
All researchers undertaking animal research at the University of Wollongong must be certified
as trained and competent in the procedures they will be performing by the Principal
Investigator (PI) and the Animal Research Facilities Manager or delegate before they
commence handling animals without supervision.
3.
Where appropriate, SOPs should be identified for all animal handling and monitoring
procedures described in each AEC application. If no written procedures exist the PI is
encouraged to develop them or to obtain them from researchers who are experienced in those
procedures. SOPs should be attached to AEC applications where indicated.
4.
When a PI or other researcher has not been appropriately trained in a particular procedure,
they must indicate how they will obtain the requisite training in the space provided in the AEC
application. Training should be conducted according to an appropriate SOP. While
undergoing training, inexperienced researchers should only perform procedures under
supervision by a researcher experienced in the technique.
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Animal Handling Policy 2012 Jan
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5.
If inexperienced researchers are observed performing procedures for which they have not
been trained and certified, or which are not performed to an adequate standard of
competence, the AEC Chair or delegate must be informed immediately. Adequate
supervision must be instituted immediately, and steps taken to alleviate and prevent animal
suffering. This may include the cessation of procedures. The PI and AEC Chair will devise
steps to ensure future compliance with the Animal Handling Policy.
6.
The Animal Research Facilities Manager will only provide training in procedures for which s/he
has appropriate training and experience.
7.
Researchers brought in from external institutions will need to be observed by the Animal
Research Facilities Manager, Principal Investigator or other appropriate person to ensure that
Animal Holding Facilities rules and procedures are being observed and that they are
competent in all procedures they intend to perform.
8.
Certificates of Competency, signed by the researcher, the PI and the Animal Research
Facilities Manager (or delegate) will be used to certify competency in identified SOPs. Copies
of the certificates will be held in the relevant Animal Holding Facilities and the Research
Services Office.
9.
SOPs will be made available on the intranet on the AEC website. In preparing their
applications for AEC approval, researchers may cite the SOP names or numbers that are
appropriate to their research, and do not need to detail the complete procedure. Any
deviations from SOPs should be noted in AEC applications and in the relevant certificates of
competency.
Roles & Responsibilities
1.
The AEC is responsible for reviewing all research applications involving the use of any
vertebrate animals for research and teaching purposes. This includes responsibility for
monitoring the acquisition, transport, housing, care, euthanasia and disposal of animals used
for research and teaching purposes and therefore also for ensuring that researchers are
trained and competent in the procedures they will be performing.
2.
The PI is responsible for ensuring that all researchers on the research protocol receive the
proper training for the procedures they will be performing and that if they are not competent
that they are supervised by someone who is competent. The PI, along with the Animal
Research Facilities Manager or delegate, is responsible for certifying that researchers are
trained and competent.
3.
The Animal Research Facilities Manager or delegate, along with the PI, is responsible for
certifying that researchers are trained and competent.
4.
All researchers are responsible for ensuring that they receive the relevant training before
handling or performing any procedure on any animal used in their research. If there are no
experienced researchers at the University of Wollongong to provide training, external expertise
should be sought. Researchers trialling new procedures may be required to conduct pilot
studies, and to report results of these studies to the AEC, before continuing their work.
Version Control and Change History
Version
Control
Date Effective
Approved By
Amendment
1
June / July
2008
AEC
As suggested by working party, AEC Chair
and AEC members
2
April 2011
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UEPC July 2011
Animal Handling Policy 2012 Jan
Revised
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January 2012
DVCR-RAID-POL-016
University Council
Animal Handling Policy 2012 Jan
Migrated to UOW Policy Template for
inclusion in the Policy Directory.
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