• Facility Support Services
  • Occupational Safety & Risk Management
  • Research Safety & Services
  • OBJECTIVE

    To establish the procedures, requirements, organizational responsibilities, guidance, safety and health precautions governing tasks involving occupational exposure to certain biological agents for all individuals at the University of Florida who may be potentially exposed to these biological agents including bacteria, viruses, toxins, prions, and cells, tissues, animals or vectors that could harbor these agents.

    RESPONSIBILITIES

    Departments
    Assist EH&S in identifying employees who are required to participate in the Program by assigning and monitoring job duties.
    Inform personnel of the requirement for participation in the Program and assist personnel with completing the authorization request forms.
    Provide fiscal information for SHCC to complete required services.
    Ensure that all guests (vendors, visitors, contractors etc.) submit documentation and enroll in the program as necessary.
    Ensure compliance for those within their department.
    Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S)
    Reviews and verifies all information submitted for authorization.
    Determines and/or assigns the appropriate respiratory protection.
    Authorizes the request for participation in the Program.
    Documents, monitors and ensures compliance for annual follow-up.
    Student Health Care Center
    Reviews submitted documentation (authorization and participant forms)

    Performs health assessment and determines whether on-site evaluation and/or physical examination are required.
    Performs medical services as needed.
    Maintains all medical records associated with this program.

    Participants
    Complies with all requirements of the program.
    Completes required initial and annual health assessments.
    Reports all potential exposures.
    Costs
    There are fees assessed by the Student Health Care Center for these services. This cost is borne by the individual’s department, not the applicant.

    PROCEDURES

    These forms should be completed at the time a department fills a vacant position in instances where it has been determined that oversight is necessary due to the potential for exposure to biohazards. These forms should also be completed any time an individual’s exposure potential changes and on an annual basis.

    Procedure List
    1. The department completes the first section of the Authorization Form.
      • The participant’s UFID must be included on the form. Lack of this UFID will prevent the SHCC review process.
      • The fiscal contact and payment for SHCC services must be included on the form. Insufficient payment info will delay risk assessment review.
      • The PI/Supervisor must sign the department section and have the form submitted to EH&S.
    2. Environmental Health and Safety must complete the second section of the Authorization Form.
      • EH&S documents any specific risk assessment information.
      • EH&S makes respirator use recommendations.
      • EH&S signature authorizes participation in the Program.
      • EH&S submits the Authorization Form to the SHCC and notifies the department of its completion.
    3. The participant completes the Biohazards Medical Assessment Questionnaire.
      • Participants who will handle Risk Group 3 agents or will be present when agent(s) are in active use must submit the completed questionnaire and contact the SHCC at 352-294-5700 for a physical examination.  Participants on a short-term visit and who will not handle agents (short-term visitors, guests, vendors, or contractors) only need to submit a completed questionnaire unless upon review the SHCC determines that additional information is required.
      • Completed Questionnaires may be submitted to the SHCC by email to OccMedClinic-RiskAssessment@ahc.ufl.edu.
      • The participant contacts EH&S at 352-392-1591 for a respirator fit test if medically cleared for a filtering face piece (e.g. N95) respirator. N95 online training must be completed annually.  Please note Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) training will be conducted by your supervisor (or designated EH&S approved trainer). Please contact your supervisor prior to using a PAPR for this training.
    4. The UF OCCMED Service provider conducts the health assessment.
      • For participants who will handle Risk Group 3 agents or will be present when agent(s) are in active use, the health assessment begins with a physical exam by the provider. For participants on a short-term visit and who will not handle agents (short-term visitors, guests, vendors, or contractors), the health assessment begins with the provider review of the submitted medical assessment questionnaire. If necessary, they contact the participant for further clinical interaction or a medical consultation.
      • When the health assessment is complete, the UF OCCMED Clinic enters the status in myUFL.