Effective May 1, all UW personnel who work in animal care and use environments must complete at least one animal use health screenings (commonly referred to as AUMS or AHA). They will continue to be allowed to decline the recommended subsequent periodic health screenings. This policy change is due to new enforcement practices by the federal Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). This brief EH&S article explains the policy change.
Within the coming weeks, EH&S occupational nurses will contact personnel in animal care and use environments who have never completed an animal use health screening. If your staff are contacted by an EH&S nurse, please inform them they must complete the screening. EH&S appreciates your support of their efforts to achieve full compliance with this new policy.
If you have questions about this new policy contact Sheryl Schwartz, the EH&S assistant director for Campus Preventive Health.