Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC)
Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC)
This document is designed to:
Emergencies, accidents and injuries can occur at any time. Being prepared is key to minimizing the effects of emergency situations on the health and well-being of people and animals.
For more information on emergency procedures in LAR facilities, contact Dr. M. A. McCrackin, Director and Attending Veterinarian for LAR, (406) 243-6344 or (406) 360-1560.
All LAR staff and animal users are strongly encouraged to read the entire disaster plan carefully. All personnel should be aware of the LAR facility floor plan and evacuation routes. Evacuation routes are conspicuously posted in the main corridors of all facilities near the main entrances. Both the Health Sciences and Skaggs Building LAR facilities have glass-enclosed, wall fire extinguishers located about half way down the main corridors from the main entrances.
You and your family should discuss action plans in case of a large scale disaster during the work day.
Know the locations of the following items in LAR:
Emergency information: manuals, telephone numbers
Telephones
Stairs
Fire alarms and fire extinguishers
Fire alarm pulls are found in the following locations:
Fire extinguishers are located half way down the main corridors of HSB and SB
First aid kits
Eyewash station
Flashlight and fresh batteries
Portable radio and fresh batteries
Everyone should carry personal emergency telephone numbers with them as much of the time as practical.
Emergency situations will be divided into four categories for the purposes of this document:
Emergencies may also be categorized by the level of impact, ranging from equipment failure at a single facility to catastrophic building damage at multiple facilities. The operational organization necessary for responding to each level of emergency depends upon the size and complexity of the emergency and of the facility impacted.
Level 1 emergencies will be handled by LAR staff with little or no assistance. The Director of LAR and Attending Veterinarian will be notified of emergencies related to animal health and safety.
Level 2 emergencies will require outside assistance from other departments and/or city emergency response personnel. For instance, a bomb threat may involve University of Montana Public Safety personnel, Missoula Emergency Medical Services, and Missoula City or County Law Enforcement.
Level 2 emergencies typically involve a single facility or building. Damage assessment will be conducted by the Director of LAR and reported directly to Facility Services and Public Safety. The LAR staff member on site with highest seniority will assume these responsibilities in the absence of the Director. While level 2 emergencies may be extensive, local University and community resources are generally readily available to assist.
Level 3 emergencies are infrequent and catastrophic and will likely exceed the capacity of local emergency response teams. LAR staff may need to respond to the crisis for several hours or longer without outside assistance. As in level 2, the Director of LAR or the LAR staff member on site with highest seniority will communicate damages directly to Facility Services and Public Safety. Emergencies of this level are under the direction of the President of the University or his designee, as outlined in The University of Montana Disaster Plan. The LAR staff will follow all directives and instructions issued by these authorities.
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Level of emergency |
Description |
Contact |
Response action |
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Level 1 |
Minor illness/injury |
Supervisor: |
Administer first aid |
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Small chemical, radiation or biohazard exposure or spill |
EH&RM Director: |
Administer first aid if safe to do so; clean up with supervision |
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Equipment or temperature alarm, power failure |
Facility Services: 243-6091 |
Check room temperatures; open doors to vent rooms if ventilation is out or temperatures are ≥ 84 °F |
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Peaceful demonstration |
Security (243-6131) LAR Director (243-6344; 360-1560) Public Relations Director (243-4824) |
Be courteous; Do not interact with demonstrators; Leave area |
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Bomb threat; suspicious items |
Security (243-4000) |
Calmly evacuate the facility |
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Level 2 |
Major medical |
Ambulance (9-911)Security (243-4000) |
Dial 9-911; Administer first aid; Call out for help |
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Large chemical, radiation or biohazard exposure or spill |
EH&RM Director (243-2811; 544-1638) Ambulance (9-911) Security (243-4000) |
Leave room, Post sentry, Call support personnel, Administer first aid as possible |
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Fire |
Pull alarm Dial 9-911 Security (243-4000) |
Call 9-911 first if closer to telephone than fire alarm; Evacuate building; Account for fellow employees |
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Illegal/criminal activity |
Dial 9-911 Security (243-4000) |
Seek safety away from threat |
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Localized flooding |
Facility Services (243-6091) Security (243-6131) |
Unplug electrical equipment; Move rodent boxes from bottom shelves to top; Evacuate building. |
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Level 3 |
Major natural disaster (earthquake, storm, flooding, large-scale terrorism) |
Dial 9-911 Security (243-4000) |
Safety check; Administer first aid as possible; Assess damaget; Evacuate building if safe to do so. |
In all emergencies, human life and safety will take precedence over animal life. The LAR staff or animal users must not put themselves or their colleagues in danger in order to evacuate animals. The LAR staff will work together with the Director of LAR and Attending Veterinarian to determine appropriate actions based on the individual emergency situation.
In the event of a large scale disaster, euthanasia of animals may be necessary. Euthanasia will be a last resort and will be conducted under the direction of the Director or Attending Veterinarian.
Questions concerning emergency animal care may be directed to Dr. M. A. McCrackin, Director of LAR and Attending Veterinarian, (406) 243-6344 or (406) 360-1560.
Access to the LAR facilities is restricted in order to provide safety for the health and well-being for the research animals and for the personnel who work there. Entry is coded on University Griz cards and granted by the Director of LAR or his/her designee. Individuals using LAR facilities should carry their Griz cards at all times and should not let strangers enter with them. After hours, the facilities are protected by a security alarm system and officers from the Department of Public Safety.
All incidents, including threats, suspicious persons, thefts of property and any crime in progress, should be reported immediately to Public Safety (406) 243-4000 if a threat is present and (406) 243-6131 if no immediate threat exists.
The University of Montana Public Safety
When to Call
What to Say
When NOT to Call
Know who in your work group has first aid training and where the first aidkit(s) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) are located.
Response Actions
Basic Procedures
Major Medical Emergencies
Major medical emergencies include severe illnesses or injuries that require immediate hospital care. Minor illnesses such as strains and sprains may be treated by private physicians or urgent care facilities in Missoula.
Major medical emergencies include the following:
Response Actions
The most common facility malfunctions that impact the laboratory animals are utility failures such as malfunction of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and power outages. Problems with the HVAC system typically occur in the "shoulder" months of spring and fall when the weather is changing, often on a daily basis in Montana.
Readiness
Know the location of a flashlight and back-up batteries.
Know how to read both the animal room thermometers mounted in the main corridors and those permanently mounted inside the rooms.
Know which portions of the facility are handled by different air handlers or can be affected uniquely.
Know the locations of temperature alarms
Response Actions
Monday through Friday call the work order desk at 243-6091. The work order desk is closed from 12 noon to 1 pm. Then call the DLAR or AV at 243-6344 or 360-1560.
After hours and on weekends, first verify the utility failure. If a temperature alarm has been activated, read the temperature of the room from both the hallway-mounted thermometer and the thermometer inside the room.
Temperatures below 65°F should be reported for correction by Facility Services. Call 243-6091 during regular business hours and Public Safety dispatch at 243-6131 after hours and on weekends. Describe the problem, the location of the problem (use specific building and room numbers), and your specific request that facility services be notified. Also request that the facility services personnel responding to the call contact you or the DLAR after the problem has been addressed.
In the event of power failure, locate the flashlight. Unplug all computers, monitors, printers, cage washers, and autoclave to prevent damage from electrical surge when the power is restored. Contact Public Safety and Facility Services as described above.
Occasionally, major winter storms in Montana are associated with rapid and significant snow fall. Road conditions may preclude staff from arriving to work on time or at all. The safety of human life is always the priority in these situations. Employees should not risk their personal safety to take care of animals in the facility. However, employees who live near the University are asked to make efforts to arrive even if the University has been officially closed for classes.
Readiness
Response Actions
If a major storm occurs during the regular work week when bedding changes and full cage washes are scheduled and only 1 or 2 employees are able to make it to work, perform daily health checks in all animal rooms not scheduled for bedding changes or full cage washes first.
Smoke, heat, and toxic gases from a fire are the most common causes of fire-related deaths and injuries, not flames. Be aware that these deadly fire elements rise and collect at ceiling levels, pushing cooler, cleaner air toward the floor. While toxic gases and heat are often fire's invisible killers, rising smoke may cover and hide exit signs above doorways. To get out of the building safely, you must be able to find the exits even if the signs are covered by smoke.
Readiness
Response Actions
Earthquake shaking may begin suddenly with a sharp jolt or slowly with a side to side motion. Earthquakes are generally noisy from creaking of buildings, objects falling and breaking, and the rumble of the earthquake itself. Do not try to leave any building during an earthquake as this is always unsafe.
Preparation
Check your work area(s) for heavy objects or equipment that could fall on top of you during an earthquake or that could block corridors, escape routes, and exits. Rearrange work areas as necessary to prevent these problems.
Be aware that you may not be able to get home after an earthquake due to blocked or damaged roads and/or bridges. Keep emergency supplies such as family phone numbers, flashlight, battery-operated radio, and first aid kit on hand.
Identify safe areas in the work place that will provide you with protection from falling objects such as sturdy tables or desks. In the event that these items are not close by, stand near an inside wall or in a hallway. Be aware that doors may swing back and forth uncontrollably.
Response Actions
During earthquake shaking
After the earthquake shaking stops
Earthquake Evacuation
Employees need to be aware of their surroundings at all times and of unauthorized or suspicious persons attempting to gain access to animal facilities. Activists may pretend to have authority to gain access or may claim to "have a delivery," an "appointment," or to have left their card access elsewhere. All animal areas are secure areas. Employees and animal users are required to carry their Griz cards at all times when in the animal facilities.
Response Actions
Bomb threats are usually received by telephone but can also come by note or letter. Most telephoned bomb threats are made by callers who want to create an atmosphere of general anxiety and panic, but all such calls are to be taken seriously and handled as though an explosive is in the building. If you receive a bomb threat by telephone, do not hang up. It is important that you remain calm and try to prolong the conversation to get as much information as possible. After the call has ended, immediately call Public Safety, 243-4000.
ALWAYS PRESUME THAT BOMB THREATS ARE REAL.
Check mail and packages for anything that appears out of place, such as unusual packaging, lack of return address, or signs of stains or leakage on the package. Carefully survey all mail after a bomb threat has been received by phone, note, or e-mail. Note any package, foreign object, or odd device located in an unusual place.
Building evacuation may be necessary after a bomb threat or the finding of a suspicious package or item. Evacuation should proceed along established fire evacuation routes.
Bomb Threat by Phone: Response Actions
Suspected Bomb or Suspicious Item Found: Response Actions
Bomb Threat Evacuation: Response Actions
Adapted from Washington University in St. Louis, Division of Comparative Medicine Animal Facility Emergency Guide (pdf).
Labratory Animal Resources
The University of Montana
Kathryn Mariucci, 406-243-6395
IACUC Coordinator, Biosafety Officer
