Work with animals

Virtually all work that involves keeping of animals, whether in an agricultural, veterinary or laboratory setting will require registration with various enforcing authorities and agencies.  All relevant authorisations and permissions must be obtained prior to work commencing. 

Key safety risks may include:

• Physical injury during animal handling.
• Transmission of zoonoic disease from animals to humans.
• Allergic reaction to animal proteins, danders or dusts.

Appropriate housing and animal handling facilities are required and all animal handlers must be trained in effective and safe handling techniques.  Risk assessments identifying foreseeable risks, including those indicated above, must be in place. 

All staff who come into contact with animals should be instructed in the risk of zoonotic disease and of the risk and symptoms of animal allergies and should be instructed to report these conditions should they occur. 

Advice should be sought from the Occupational Health Unit on whether routine health surveillance or pre-employment medicals are appropriate for staff working with animals.

Animal by-products

The Animal By-Products Regulations apply controls on the use, treatment, handling and disposal of animal by-products with the aim of controlling the risks, including disease, to both animals and the public. The Regulations define animal by-products (ABPs) as: entire bodies or parts of animals or products of animal origin not intended for human consumption.

Waste disposal

Information on the disposal of ABPs and of associated waste is available in the Waste section of SEPS web site.