Biosafety Occupational Health Program
The Texas A&M Biosafety Occupational Health Program provides occupational health services to personnel at risk of exposure to infectious biohazards or to animals during their participation in, or operational support of, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) permitted research, teaching or diagnostic activities.
The BOHP provides eligible participants with access to educational resources, occupational health services, and to an occupational health provider. Specifically, the BOHP addresses occupational exposure to the following:
- Biohazardous materials handled in IBC permitted research, teaching or diagnostic laboratories at Biosafety Level 2 or higher including:
- Human pathogens or zoonotic pathogens of animals;
- Materials potentially containing human pathogens (e.g., human or non-human primate blood, body fluids, unfixed tissues, or cell lines- including commercially available lines);
- Recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules and cells, organisms, and viruses containing such molecules; and
- Biological select agents and toxins.
- Animal related injuries or illness, including:
- Development of animal-related allergies or asthma; or
- Animal bites or scratches that break the skin; or
- Exposure of mucus membranes or non-intact skin to animal waste or body fluids.
Personnel who may have an occupational risk of exposure to infectious biohazards or who have contact with animals are required to enroll in the Biosafety Occupational Health Program (BOHP).