University of Louisville
Occupational Hazards Associated with the
Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Quiz
1. After thoroughly reading the training document,
“Occupational Hazards Associated with the Care and
Use of Laboratory Animals,” and completing this
quiz, you are ready to:
a. immediately begin working with hazardous
agents.
b. consult the Department of Environmental Health
& Safety (DEHS), Offices of Research Services
(ORS) and Health Services, and referenced
documents for additional information.
c. transport ventilated cages, large bags of bedding
and feed, and other heavy objects without
further training.
d. fearlessly assist in the birth of a lamb equipped
with merely your bare hands, hot water, and a
clean towel.
2. Which of the following increases the risk of animal
bites?
a. Inappropriate handling
b. Full moon
c. Housing animals in cages without bedding
d. Talking to the animals
3. Which of the following may constitute a biological
hazard?
a. Human tissues, blood, and body fluids
b. Human cell lines
c. Recombinant DNA
d. All of the above
4. Who is responsible for posting the “Special Animal
Safety Protocol” on the animal housing room door?
a. The Principal Investigator (or designee)
b. The Attending Veterinarian
c. The RRF facility Supervisor
d. The RRF animal husbandry technician assigned
to the room.
5. Persons with potential occupational exposure to
human blood, blood products, human tissue, human
cell lines and certain body fluids must be offered:
a. dust masks
b. vaccination against Hepatitis B
c. absorbent bench liners
d. Viton gloves
Version 2, 29-August-13
6. Which of the following provides a personalized,
individual risk assessment for personnel exposed to
laboratory animals and research-related hazards?
a. The text, Biosafety in Microbiological and
Biomedical Biological Laboratories (CDC/NIH)
b. A completed and submitted UofL “Periodic
Animal Contact Health Survey”
c. The information found in the UofL Health
Protection Program for Handling Research
Animals (DEHS)
d. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
7. Which of the following helps prevent exposure to
the hazards associated with inhalation anesthetics?
a. Surgical mask
b. Nitrile gloves
c. Waste anesthetic gas scavenging system
d. Goggles
8. Which of the following statements is false?
a. “Q fever” is caused by Coxiella burnetii.
b. Ruminants are the primary host for “Q fever.”
c. “Q fever” is usually spread by aerosol or direct
transmission from ruminant tissues, soiled
bedding or body fluids.
d. “Q fever” usually produces serious disease in
humans.
9. Which of the following statements regarding the use
of hazardous agents is false?
a. The greatest potential for a significant exposure
to highly toxic chemicals occurs during the
manipulation of pure or concentrated materials
as, for example, during the preparation of stock
solutions.
b. Use of inhalation anesthetics requires use of
appropriate exhaust ventilation, such as a
scavenging device or a chemical fume hood.
c. Standard Operating Procedures delineating
methods of hazard control are required for
laboratory use of particularly hazardous
chemicals.
d. Researchers and animal care technicians need
not concern themselves about animals that have
been administered highly toxic chemicals,
radionuclides, or biological hazards.
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10. True (A) or False (B)?
Compressed gas cylinders must be secured in place
by a wall chain, bracket, or base.
11. Which of the following is the most common and
important of the occupational hazards associated
with the care and use of laboratory animals?
a. Allergic reactions to animals
b. Zoonotic diseases in random-source animals
c. Traumatic wounds such as bites
d. Metabolites from administered toxic agents
12. What is the best location for sharps disposal
containers?
a. Near the entrance to the room so that everyone
can access it.
b. Next to the sink so that you can wash your hands
after disposing of the needle.
c. As close to the point of use as possible to
eliminate the need to travel across the room to
dispose of the needle.
d. Inside a secured cabinet to keep used needles out
of the hands of illegal drug users.
13. Which of the following statements regarding
zoonoses is true?
a. Rabies is commonly transmitted from dogs and
cats by the respiratory route via aerosols.
b. The risk of acquiring zoonotic infections from
contemporary laboratory animals is quite high.
c. Rat Bite Fever is frequently associated with
laboratory-bred rodents.
d. Humans may be exposed to Mycobacterium spp.
by cleaning contaminated aquaria.
14. The “Special Animal Safety Protocol”:
a. outlines safety practices and procedures to be
taken in the animal facility regarding animals
that have been exposed to hazardous agents.
b. describes those practices for handling fractious
animals.
c. discusses considerations that may be useful
when handling non-hazardous animal wastes.
d. defines handling procedures for irreplaceable
animals, such as transgenic “founders.”
15. Which of the following statements is false?
a. Bedding from animals exposed to radioactive
material may require survey to determine its
radioactivity prior to disposal.
b. Use of high-energy beta and gamma emitters
requires the wearing of radiation dosimetry
badges.
c. Anyone wishing to use radioactive materials
may purchase them directly and notify the
Radiation Safety Office afterwards.
d. If a radioisotope administered to an animal could
be released by exhalation, engineering controls
such as local exhaust ventilation might be
required.
16. Excessive noise is not likely to be found in which of
the following areas?
a. Cage washing areas
b. Animal room housing rodents
c. Animal room housing pigs
d. Animal room housing dogs
17. True (A) or False (B)?
Animal allergies can develop after many years of
exposure.
18. True (A) or False (B)?
Employees who are immunocompromised may need
to use special equipment to protect themselves or be
relocated within a facility to reduce their risk of an
occupationally acquired illness.
19. True (A) or False (B)?
Assessing an individual’s risk requires a detailed
medical history along with information regarding the
types of animals, chemicals, and biological agents
used.
20. How can you obtain a health risk assessment based
on your potential exposures and personal health
history?
a. Complete the “Periodic Animal Contact Health
Survey” for a confidential physician review.
b. Watch the television show “20/20.”
c. Disregard hazard warnings on chemical labels.
d. Gossip with your co-workers.
Please return a completed Answer Sheet to the Office of Research Services. You will have successfully
completed the training portion of the “Occupational Health and Safety Program for Personnel
Handling Laboratory Animals or Working in Animal Facilities” once a passing
score (85%) is achieved and recorded.
Version 2, 29-August-13
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University of Louisville
Office of Research Services
Occupational Hazards Associated with the
Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Quiz Answer Sheet
Name:
Date:
Question
a
or “True”
b
or “False”
c
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