ALAT Occupational Health and Safety 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of respirator provides the highest level of respiratory protection when working with animals that produce high levels of allergens?
- N95 filtering facepiece respirator
- Surgical mask
- Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) (Correct answer)
- Simple dust mask
Correct answer: Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR)
A PAPR provides the highest protection factor among common respirators and is recommended for workers with severe allergen sensitivities.
Question 2: An animal technician is bitten by a research mouse. What is the FIRST action that should be taken?
- Complete an incident report form
- Immediately wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- Notify the principal investigator
- Apply a bandage and continue working
Correct answer: Immediately wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes
Immediate thorough wound washing with soap and water is the first priority to reduce infection risk from a bite wound.
Question 3: What does the term 'zoonosis' refer to in the context of laboratory animal work?
- A disease transmitted only between animals
- A disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans (Correct answer)
- An allergic reaction to animal dander
- A chemical hazard found in animal facilities
Correct answer: A disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans
A zoonosis is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans or vice versa.
Question 4: When using a chemical disinfectant in the animal facility, which action best protects the technician?
- Work quickly to minimize exposure time
- Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before use (Correct answer)
- Dilute the chemical more than recommended to reduce hazard
- Use the chemical only in well-lit areas
Correct answer: Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before use
The SDS provides critical information on hazards, required PPE, and safe handling procedures for chemical disinfectants.
Question 5: A technician notices they experience wheezing and nasal congestion only on workdays. This pattern most likely indicates:
- A seasonal respiratory infection
- Laboratory animal allergy (LAA) (Correct answer)
- Sensitivity to cleaning chemicals only
- Normal physical response to manual labor
Correct answer: Laboratory animal allergy (LAA)
Work-related symptoms that improve on days off are a classic sign of laboratory animal allergy caused by occupational allergen exposure.
Question 6: Which regulatory body establishes occupational exposure limits (OELs) for chemicals used in laboratory animal facilities in the United States?
- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
- NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
- OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) (Correct answer)
- AAALAC International
Correct answer: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
OSHA establishes and enforces permissible exposure limits (PELs) for workplace chemical hazards in the United States.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of a medical surveillance program for animal facility workers?
- To monitor employee productivity and attendance
- To detect early signs of work-related health effects and prevent disease progression (Correct answer)
- To verify employees are physically fit for heavy lifting only
- To satisfy insurance requirements for the institution
Correct answer: To detect early signs of work-related health effects and prevent disease progression
Medical surveillance programs identify work-related health problems early so that interventions can be made before conditions become serious.
ALAT Occupational Health and Safety 4
Which type of respirator provides the highest level of respiratory protection when working with animals that produce high levels of allergens?